MCOH Partnership History

The MO Coalition for Oral Health is only three years old.  Originally a group of interested organizations and individuals came together in an informal fashion to discuss ways to improve oral health in the state.  The organizations and individuals appointed a Steering Committee to lead oral health improvement efforts.  At one time, the Missouri Primary Care Association served as the lead agency for the oral health improvement activities once the Steering Committee disbanded.  Later the Missouri Head Start Association/Missouri State Head Start Collaboration Office became the "lead organization" for the oral health improvement activities in the state. 

In 2006 after nearly seven years, the oral health organizations agreed that there should be a formal statewide organization to serve the interest of oral health advocates.  In 2006, the Coalition was formally incorporated under Missouri law and through its bylaws recognized its founding and sponsoring members. 

Founding and supporting members of the Coalition include:  

• Missouri Dental Association (MDA)
• Missouri Primary Care Association (MPCA)
• Mid-Missouri Area Health Education Center (Mid-MO AHEC)
• Missouri Head Start State Collaboration Office (MHSSCO)
• Missouri Head Start Association (MHSA)
• Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS)
• UMKC School of Dentistry
• Missouri Dental Hygienist Association (MDHA)
• Oral Health Network of Missouri (OHNM)
• Central Missouri Community Action (CMCA)

Recently MCOH's bylaws were amended to expand board representation to a more diverse group of organizations and individuals.  This will enable MCOH to expand its reach and impact in the area of oral health across the state.  The change also mirrors the best practice oral health coalition structure endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 

Our newest board member organizations include:

• Doral Dental - Missouri (dental plan representative)
• Delta Dental - Missouri (dental plan representative)
• Missouri Association of School Nurses (MSNA)
• Missouri HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid)

The board will also include individual representatives from the following disciplines:

• a private dentist
• a private dental hygienist
• a private physician or nurse
• three at large members

The Coalition's Organizational Membership

• Missouri Dental Association (MDA)
• Missouri Primary Care Association (MPCA)
• Mid-Missouri Area Health Education Center (Mid-MO AHEC)
• Missouri Head Start State Collaboration Office (MHSSCO)
• Missouri Head Start Association (MHSA)
• Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS)
• UMKC School of Dentistry
• Missouri Dental Hygienist Association (MDHA)
• Oral Health Network of Missouri (OHNM)
• Central Missouri Community Action
• Missouri Association of School Nurses
• Missouri HealthNet
• Doral Dental - Missouri
• Delta Dental - Missouri
• BarCeDa Families
• Chariton County Health Center
• Children's Smile Center
• Economic Security Corporation - Early Head Start
• Healthcare USA
• Henry County Health Department
• Lafayette County Health Department
• Lower Boothill Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention
• Pemiscot County Initiative Network
• Social Welfare Board
• Washington County Community Partnership
• Family Health Center - Columbia
• Jordan Valley Dental Clinic
• Cross Trails Medical Center

The Coalition's Individual Members:

• Tammie Benton
• Bonnie Branson
• Catherine Edwards
• Brenda Myers
• Ruth Brown
• Lori Bruce
• Myrna Bruning
• Lisa Bush
• Debby Bust
• Chris Coffman
• Margaret Cott
• Jo-Ann Creech
• Heather Cunningham Arth
• Dennis Diehl
• Lisa Farmer
• Renee Piquet-Freeman
• Shari Fleshman
• Julie Greenfield
• Linda Grgurich
• Donald Grim, DDS
• Cindy Heischmidt
• Shasta Hetherington
• Ann Hoffman
• Linda Hoffman
• Lane Jacobs
• Peggy Karlinsky
• Bray Kimberly
• Kim Langdon
• Brenda Lasater
• Genevieve Maples
• Charlyne Mason-Dozier
• Moncy Mathews, DDS
• Jeanene Millsap
• Linda Money
• Rich Murray
• Julie Nice
• Pamela Overton
• Kathleen Penfold
• Marie Peoples
• Kathleen Penfold
• Debbie Polc
• Bryan Pope, DDS
• Annette Portell
• Claudia Preuschoff, MD
• James Ragland
• Gail Redman
• Shirley Reser
• Jessica Rhodes
• Darryl Rothman
• Melissa Scheer
• Becky Schrama
• Diane Sexton
• Cheryl Spiller
• Carolyn Stemmons
• Mark Strodtman, RN
• Patrick Truernicht
• Ann Vering
• Rozanne Vincent
• Beth Vossler
• Sharon Weiss
• Cindy Westmoreland
• Clifton Whitworth, DDS
• Pamela Wittmeyer
• Sharon Young

Become a Member of the Coalition

To help us in our efforts, consider becoming a member today! MCOH is a statewide membership organization. Anyone interested in improving the oral health status of all Missourians is welcome to join.

Privileges of Membership include:

• Opportunity to participate in the MCOH annual meeting.
• Legislative, Executive, and Administrative Branch and community advocacy participation.
• Opportunity to participate in Coalition committees and other work groups.
• Discounted rates for MCOH training and/or other events or educational opportunities.
• Technical assistance for engaging community support and funding for oral health programs, access to toolkits for best practices programs, and networking
• opportunities with other oral health groups in Missouri.
• Access to the MCOH website and the MCOH eNewsletter.
• Opportunities to highlight your oral health program as part of the MCOH Oral Health Community Initiatives page.