Uncategorized

Community Fluoridation in Our City

Spokane faces real oral health challenges and disparities. We have higher cavity rates than many other Washington communities. Spokane is the largest city in the state without the right balance of fluoride in the water.

On September 14, the Spokane City Council voted 6-1 to approve entering into a grant agreement with Arcora Foundation. The city will receive $4,000,000 to cover the capital costs related to implementing community water fluoridation, including planning, design, permitting, and construction costs.

Arcora is contributing $3,000,000 of the total. Nine locally-operating organizations worked together to raise the other $1,000,000; Better Health Together, Empire Health Foundation Community Action Fund, Providence Health Care, MultiCare Health Systems, Kaiser Permanente, Molina Health Care, Amerigroup, Community Health Plan of Washington, and Coordinated Care.

Thank you to all these funders and the countless community members, health care members, housing organizations, church pastors, activists, and parents who came out to support this public health initiative. This is a critical first step to radically improving the oral health of our city.

Letters of Support
for Community Water Fluoridation

Roe v. Wade BHT Board Position Statement

The BHT Board reaffirms our belief that reproductive rights are human rights, and vital to achieving health justice is ensuring all people have the highest level of autonomy and choice in determining what healthy looks like for them.

Using Pronouns

Hey there! If you’ve recently received an email from us, been in a meeting with one of our staff, or been on our website, you might notice BHT employees introduce and identify themselves with their pronouns. Here’s a little more information on why we use pronouns.

Tribal Partners Leadership Council meeting notes & materials

November/December 2021 Slides December Mentimeter responses October 2021 Meeting notes TPLC Participatory Design – link to Mentimeter activity September 2021 Meeting notes TPLC Participatory Design – link to Mentimeter activity August 2021 No August meeting July 2021 Agenda Slides June 2021 No June meeting May 2021 Agenda Pioneer Human Services slide deck April 2021 Agenda …

Tribal Partners Leadership Council meeting notes & materials Read More »

Fluoridation: Improving Children’s Oral Health

By Dr. Deb HarperThe first time I saw a child with teeth destroyed to the gumlines, I thought he had ectodermal dysplasia. Never heard of that? It’s a very rare inborn condition. I had seen it twice during my training at Cook County Hospital, but I had never seen what this Spokane boy had in the spring of 1985. Cavities had rotted out all of his front teeth. The difference? Chicago’s water is fluoridated. Spokane’s water is not.

Together We Can Stop COVID-19

COVID-19 has taken a toll on our region. At Better Health Together (BHT), we are working with community partners to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible. BHT is committed to an equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution process that removes the barriers many people in our region face accessing the vaccine.

BHT and our community partners launched a 2021 campaign to normalize vaccination, which features leaders, influencers, and health experts from across the region sharing their vaccine stories and encouraging others to get vaccinated. Our Trusted Messenger COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign is running on TV, cable, and radio across Eastern Washington. You’ll also see billboards and print ads, as well as digital ads and social media content.

As a part of this effort, we have developed resources for partners can access and share!

Scroll to Top