California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN) is connecting local community-based organizations with statewide advocates to effectively work together for change in California’s public oral health system, Medi-Cal Dental.
In 2019, CPEHN found that many community members struggled to access dental care through Medi-Cal Dental due to language barriers, despite existing state laws. The Medi-Cal Dental Telephone Service Center (TSC) failed to provide interpretation assistance for languages other than Spanish. Working with members of the California Oral Health Progress and Equity Network (CA-OPEN), CPEHN led a group of 28 organizations to address these concerns, resulting in the Department committing to improvements, including updating the automated phone system with more languages, creating a language access workgroup, hosting webinars, and translating materials.