We envision Texas as a state where every person is known to enjoy optimal oral health as part of one’s total well-being through individual and shared community responsibility where:

• Education and prevention are priorities
• Education, prevention, and treatment are available, accessible, affordable, timely and culturally competent
• Community solutions are shared among patients, parents, providers, employers, insurers, and government
• Collaboration by government, higher education, public and private sector ensures resources, supportive public policy, quality care, advocacy, and patient protection

• Identify oral health issues for all populations within Texas
• Review, revise and implement the Texas State Oral Health Plan.
• Assist in the development of a burden document that describes the burden of oral disease in Texas.
• Educate legislators, stakeholders, and the public about the need to improve access to oral health services.
• Inform and advocate policy issues relating to oral health.

2007 Texas Oral Health Coalition Meetings

Thursday, July 12

The meeting hotel for all the 2007 coalition meetings will be the Crowne Plaza Hotel (formerly the Red Lion Hotel), 6121 North IH 35 (corner of Hwy 290E and IH 35) in Austin. Please note than this is a different location from last year. DSHS has blocked a limited number of sleeping rooms for the night before each meeting at the state rate of $85 single, $105 double, plus tax. You must call the hotel yourself to make your lodging arrangements (for the Jan 11 meeting) by January 4, 2007. Please let the reservation desk know that you are with the DSHS Oral Health Group when booking. The toll-free number to call for reservations is 1-800-227-6963. The Crowne Plaza Hotel does not have its own airport shuttle, but does have low-cost shuttle service through Super Shuttle. The number to call for a shuttle reservation is 1-800-BLUEVAN.