Apple Health Expansion provides free healthcare coverage for adults age 19 and older with certain immigration statuses, including undocumented community members.
Have you previously applied for Washington Apple Health and were denied due to immigration status? You may be eligible for Apple Health Expansion! Applying for Apple Health is always free and does not impact immigration status.
Read MoreBetter Health Together supports housing-first approaches to solving homelessness. We understand that safe and affordable shelter is fundamental to achieving health equity. The Housing First approach prioritizes establishing access to decent, safe, and permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness to ensure the needed stability for improving health. Review the literature supporting this approach to learn more!
Read MoreThe 2023 Smile Survey is making significant progress across the state. So far, thanks to the partnership of school districts, the survey has reached 55% of schools randomly selected for the sample. In Spokane County, the Smile Spokane Collaborative is seeking connections to selected schools to support participation in the Smile Survey.
Read MoreReports of fake texts and phone calls to Medicaid clients have been reported over the past couple weeks in other states. We’re asking Apple Health (Medicaid) clients to be aware of suspicious contact seeking money to maintain their health coverage.
Read MoreIn 2017 a 100-day challenge to house 100 youth and young adults in Spokane. This effort grew into a collaborative effort to end youth and young adult (YYA) homelessness. In 2021 the HUD selected the Spokane community to participate in the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP). Learn more about the background leading up to Spokane’s YHDP.
Read MoreThe Coordinated Community Plan for Spokane was developed through regular meetings with Core Team partners, including youth and young adults (YYA) with lived homelessness experience, service providers, and stakeholders. It represents the work of stakeholders from across the community — from YYA with lived experience, government, child welfare, education, workforce development, business, justice, affordable housing, advocacy, and community organizations.
Read MoreLast year, Better Health Together partnered with five community organizations with strong ties and trusted relationships with members of their community to provide housing assistance through the City of Spokane Emergency Housing grant. Through this work, organizations identified families impacted by COVID and needing financial assistance to stabilize their housing situation. The partner organizations have served more than 250 households to date! Many of these households had been facing imminent eviction.
Read MoreThe HCA is asking for feedback on their draft application for our state’s Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver renewal. They will use feedback to refine the application that the HCA will submit to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) this summer. Read the letters from BHT’s Board of Directors and Community Voices Council.
Read MoreAs we acknowledge National Mental Health Awareness month, we’re shining a light on Smile Spokane’s Care Linkages Strategy and our impactful partnership with Frontier Behavioral Health (FBH). Overall health means oral health, physical health, and emotional and mental health. The care navigators at FBH help connect people living with mental challenges and illness to all kinds of support and care, including oral health care.
Read MoreHey there! If you’ve recently received an email from us, been in a meeting with one of our staff, or been on our website, you might notice BHT employees introduce and identify themselves with their pronouns. Here’s a little more information on why we use pronouns.
Read MoreOn May 14, Eastern Washington University's (EWU) dental hygiene program celebrated five decades of excellence and service to the community. Over the years, the dental hygiene program has proudly educated generations of dental hygiene professionals while operating a clinic that provides quality care for less-advantaged residents of our community. Here's a quick look back at their history!
Read MorePeople who earn less than $17,775 a year are eligible to enroll in Apple Health (Medicaid) insurance, which covers dental care. Unfortunately, that doesn't always mean they are able to access dental care they need. In fact, in Spokane in 2020, only 24% of adults with Apple Health saw a dentist. Smile Spokane’s Access Strategy seeks to close that gap and help more people get the care they need.
Read MoreSpokane Regional Health District (SRHD) program staff helps eligible kids access ABCD-certified dentists by providing case management and technical assistance. If a child has Apple Health (Medicaid), they are eligible to receive services through the ABCD program.
Read MoreWe want to celebrate our Sealants Strategy in honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month! Tooth pain and cavities can make kids more likely to miss school and more likely to earn below-average grades. Luckily, Communities in Schools Spokane County and ToothSavers of Washington have partnered with Smile Spokane to provide sealants to kids in elementary schools. When we prevent cavities, kids stay in school, focused on achieving good grades, which supports their long-term success in life.
Read MoreAs 2021 closes, BHT still has approximately $1.5 million of IMC funds to allocate. At the September BH Forum, partners discussed how they would like to see us use the IMC funds over the next two years. At the November Board meeting, the Board approved allocation for the remaining IMC funds toward behavioral health initiatives in 2022-23.
Read MoreWith the global pandemic upon us in early 2021 and the disparities in health care becoming glaringly obvious, Smile Spokane started an equity project in partnership with CHAS Health community health workers (CHW), with the support of the Arcora Foundation. The project focused on the oral health needs of Spokane’s Marshallese community members.
Read MoreNovember is Diabetes Awareness Month. Good oral health is especially important for people with diabetes, who are 3x more likely to have gum disease. As part of Smile Spokane’s Care Coordination Strategy, Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington connects people with diabetes to oral health providers who take Apple Health Medicaid. Accessing dental services helps people with diabetes manage the health of their mouth.
Read MoreOctober is LGBTQIA+ History Month, an opportunity to reflect on the work and sacrifice of LGBTQIA+ advocates and leaders that have changed the course of our history for our country and globally.
In 1994 a gay high school teacher, Rodney Wilson, and some LGBTQIA+ community members founded LGBTQIA+ History Month with the hopes of giving LGBTQIA+ kids a chance to learn their history and see themselves represented. National Coming Out Day is also observed on October 11 and is an opportunity for LGBTQIA+ people to speak their truths and be supported.
Since the Stonewall riots, which created the foundation for what we now call Pride Parade, the fight for equality has come a long way, but we have so much more to do.
In the last few years, we have seen the rights of LGBTQIA+ people attacked locally and nationwide legislatively. Trans athletes have been targeted; the right to access to healthcare, education, and other human rights are being challenged by our courts.
Reflecting on the work of those who fought for justice and equity throughout history is one meaningful way we can remain steadfast in our work as advocates and reflect on LGBTQIA+ history. It reminds us that the fight for equity and inclusion is one of hope.
We hope you’ll join us and take time to learn more about and share your favorite LGBTQIA+ historical figure with your community is a great way to honor LGBTQIA+ History Month.
