Mission and Vision

The Smile Spokane Network believes that everyone should have the opportunity to live a healthy life.

The vision of Smile Spokane is to implement a comprehensive set of strategies working toward the common goal of reducing health disparities in Spokane County. Through a health equity lens, the Network applies the strategic framework of the Arcora Foundation (transformation, prevention, and access) into a place-based initiative.

Background

2015, a coalition of organizations representing a diverse range of sectors in our community, including philanthropy, public health, social service, dental professionals, and higher education, gathered to identify ways to address Spokane’s serious oral health problems, including the low levels of fluoride in the water.

 Through this collaboration and with support from the Arcora Foundation, Smile Spokane was formed. It served as an organizing entity with strategies in place to improve oral health in Spokane, including investing in focused community education to raise awareness of the importance of oral health and the benefits of community water fluoridation.

 2017, Smile Spokane evolved to become a Local Impact Network (LIN), linking committed community partners to improve oral health together. There are many organizational partners in the LIN, and each partner is attached to a key Anchor Strategy, spanning focus areas of prevention, access to care, and system transformation. The goal is to make measurable progress toward oral health equity by working to transform the oral health system in our region so everyone can enjoy better oral and overall health.

2019, Better Health Together (BHT) became the Network Manager for Smile Spokane, the Local Impact Network (LIN).

Strategies

Using a health equity lens, the LIN will work toward improving health disparities through six anchor strategies:

• Community Care Coordination

• Oral Health Integration into Primary Care

• Access to Dental Services through transportation

• School-based Sealant Programs

• Care Linkages for Individuals with a Behavioral Health Diagnosis

• Community Education

Our Partners

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