Chapter Oral Health Advocates
The American Academy of Pediatrics, with funding from the American Dental Association Foundation, has trained pediatricians in most states to be Chapter Oral Health Advocates (COHA). Once trained, COHA are asked to do the following:
- Deliver at least 4 trainings annually on how to incorporate oral health into the medical home.
- Advocate for children’s oral health issues at the state and local levels.
- Serve as an access point for others working in their community on improving children’s oral health through pediatric involvement.
- Build relationships with dental colleagues in their communities and dental societies to improve access to oral health care.
View the full COHA position description. (123 KB)
Find the COHA in your State
To learn who the COHA is in your state, either view the full roster (16 KB) or access your state’s resource page.
COHA Advisory Group
The COHA are led by an advisory group (19 KB) . This advisory group provides leadership and direction for the COHA and their efforts. To learn more about the COHA, visit the State Information and Resource Map pages or contact oralhealth@aap.org.
Upcoming Events
Join the US National Oral Health Alliance
COHAs and others are encouraged to join the US National Oral Health Alliance by clicking here
usnoha.org/content/join-us.
Keep up to date with our Event Calendar!
Chapter Advocate Training on
Oral Health
The Chapter Advocate Training on Oral Health (CATOOH) was a training program funded by the American Dental Association Foundation. It was a 3-year program, where the AAP aggressively recruited pediatricians from most of its AAP Chapters to be trained as Chapter Oral Health Advocates.
At this live training, pediatricians learned basic oral health information for use in the pediatric practice and experienced a hands-on oral health risk assessment and fluoride varnish training. The program was a great success in training advocates who are now out in the states training other pediatricians about oral health. The agendas from each CATOOH are provided for your information.
2010 CATOOH Agenda (33 KB)
2009 CATOOH Agenda (29 KB)
2008 CATOOH Agenda (20 KB)
For more information about the CATOOH or to request information about the presentations held during the CATOOH, please email oralhealth@aap.org.
Resources
- COHA Roster (16 KB)
- COHA Position Description (123 KB)
- CATOOH State Oral Health Resource Guide (25 KB)
- Chapter Oral Health Advocate Models (53 KB)
