DRAFT 1/14/09
Central Nevada Oral Health Coalition (CNOHC)
Minutes – January 13, 2009
Call in number: 1-877-873-8017
Conference code: 3932722
1. Millie McClain called the meeting to order at 12:05 P.M.
2. Roll call
Present:
Beth Ennis - Community Health Nurse, (Tonopah) Nevada State Health Division
Junee Garcia- Nye Communities Coalition
Millie McClain – UNLV School of Dental Medicine (UNLV SDM)
Dr. Bob Talley – Executive Director, Nevada Dental Association (NDA)
Chris Wood –Chronic and Communicable Disease Program Manager, Nevada
State Health Division
3. Minutes
The October 30, 2008 minutes were approved as submitted.
4. Participating organization reports
Over winter break, Beth Ennis worked with the Maple Star organization to
provide fluoride varnish to 14 children. Maple Star mentors children who are
Medicaid clients. Millie will send Beth an additional 20 unit does of fluoride
varnish.
Millie reported the Seal Nevada South program has started providing services at
Robert Taylor Elementary School. This school will complete their obligation
relative to the grant they received from the Stern Foundation. They will then start
working on meeting the deliverables for the grant they received from the Fund for
a Healthy Nevada.
5. Old business
Legislative efforts (Chris Wood and Bob Talley) – Representatives from all six
regional oral health coalitions met on January 9 to discuss upcoming legislation.
Senator Bernice Matthews (D-Washoe No 1) has requested a bill draft that would
mandate fluoridation in Washoe County (BDR 40-924). The BDR is being
cosponsored by Assemblywoman Debbie Smith (D-Washoe No 30). A bill draft
to create statutory authority for a State Oral Health Program (BDR 40-861) has
also been requested by Assemblywoman Bonnie Parnell (D-Carson City and
Washoe No 40). It is cosponsored by Senator John Lee (D-Clark No 1). The
Nevada Dental Association (NDA) has a new lobbyist, Jeanette Belz. Currently
she is focusing most of her efforts on obtaining support for fluoridation and
determining the cost to fluoridate. Legislators have two questions 1) How will the
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DRAFT 1/14/09
bill be structured (what water authorities in Washoe County will have to
fluoridate and what wells will have to be fluoridated?); 2) How much will it cost?
The NDA and Jeanette have already met with Truckee Meadows Water Authority
(TMWA) and Washoe County Department of Water Resources (WCDWR) to
request their assistance in estimating the capital and ongoing costs to implement
fluoridation. Once they have this information, the fluoridation issue brief will be
reformatted into a bulleted marketing piece with “sound bites” and cost
information. Coalition members should start preparing to contact legislators in
person or by phone, e-mail, or letter. The message is that the fact that Washoe
County is not fluoridated, costs everyone in the State. The members of the health
committees should be their first priority starting with the Senate Health and
Education Committee followed by the Assembly Health and Human Services
Committee. The Legislative workgroup will send contact information and
updated issue briefs out to coalition members. The next meeting of the
Legislative Committee will be on Friday, January 23 at 9 am. All coalition chairs
are encouraged to participate. It will be a telephone conference (Call in number:
1-877-873-8017, Passcode: 3932722). Bob Talley volunteered to accompany
Central Nevada Oral Health Coalition members when they visit with
legislators.
Second annual Tonopah Health Fair – The oral health fair will be on Saturday,
March 7 at the high school. One of the dentists on faculty at the dental school has
already agreed to participate and Millie is in the process of enlisting the assistance
of dental students. The main effort now needs to be on disseminating information
in the community.
o Action
Millie will finish revising forms and send them to Beth for
review
Beth will edit the flyer used last year so it can be used this year.
Beth and Junee will disseminate information about the event in
the community. They will contact cc and secure her assistance.
Beth will follow up wit the Executive Director of the
Immunization Coalition, Cari Rovig, to find out if she wishes
to partner.
Beth will call Dr. Pam Patten to find out if she wishes to
participate.
Chris will send Beth toothbrush covers and other incentives.
6. Next meeting
Monday, March 16, 2009 at 12:00 PM. (Teleconference call in number 877-873-8017.
Conference code 3932722).
8. The meeting adjourned at 12:40 pm
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