Page 3 - Lifelong Smiles Coalition Evaluation - Sept2020
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LIFELONG SMILES - THE GENESIS



        The fact that Iowa ranks high among states with an       the Coalition can quickly react and respond to issues
        aging population was already well known. However,        and opportunities as needed.
        the extent to which access to oral healthcare was        Once the structure was established, the Delta Dental
        limited, the systemic barriers that impact access, and   of Iowa Foundation staff purposely began to back away
        the reasons oral health should be a higher priority with   from the leadership role so that Coalition leadership
        this population were less known, especially outside      and members were empowered to truly lead the
        the traditional oral health community. The Delta Dental   Coalition. The Foundation’s role evolved into a
        of Iowa Foundation board members knew that using         backbone organization to support the coalition’s work.
        data to tell the story was an important part of laying   The Lifelong Smiles Coalition held their first meeting
        the groundwork to build support for a broad-based        early in 2014.
        and long-term effort. To accomplish this, the board
        facilitated a Collective Impact process.                 Why focus on oral health for older Iowans?

        Over the course of 2012-13, an Educate, Motivate,        Poor oral health can affect the ability to chew,
        and Activate methodology was utilized to create the      swallow, and speak and contributes to malnutrition,
        context around which the Lifelong Smiles Coalition       inflammation, and self-esteem. Older Iowans residing
        formed. This process sought to ensure a group of         in nursing facilities and homebound settings may also
        engaged stakeholders understood the issues and           have immunocompromised systems and challenges
        were armed with strategies to address them.  To          accessing care.
        formulate the Coalition structure, an additional, ad hoc   Although there is a strong correlation between poor
        committee was formed to consider governance needs,       oral health and systemic conditions, Iowa lacks a
        membership, and policies. This later became the          coordinated system of oral health care for older adults.
        Steering Committee, which remains in place to ensure






                     Collective Impact Process Utilized to Establish the Lifelong Smiles Coalition



               EDUCATE                           MOTIVATE                           ACTIVATE
               • Conducted a needs               • Identified issues                • Developed collective
                assessment                       • Narrowed into themes              action plan
               • Included state and              • Established committees           • Need for coalition
                national experts                                                     emerged
               • Convened stakeholders





                                GOVERNANCE                         COMMITTEES
                                • Steering committee               • Education and Training
                                 established                       • Coordination and Outreach
                                • Governance, membership           • Program Policy and
                                 policies developed                 Reimbursement










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