The past week has been an exciting and important one for the Dental Health Foundation following the launch of our new Child Oral Health Initiative for Traveller Families.
Launched in partnership with the Kerry Traveller Health & Community Development Project (KTHCDP) and Cork Traveller Visibility Group (CTVG), the initiative aims to support Traveller parents and caregivers in caring for the oral health of children from birth to eight years of age. At the heart of the programme is Caring for Your Child's Gums and Teeth, a culturally inclusive educational resource developed in collaboration with Traveller communities and designed to be accessible, practical and relevant for families.
Since the launch, the initiative has generated significant media interest across Ireland, helping to bring important conversations about oral health inequalities, early prevention and community-led health promotion to a wider audience.
Over the past week, representatives from the DHF, the KTHCDP and the CTVG have participated in a range of newspaper, online and radio interviews, highlighting both the need for targeted oral health supports and the positive impact this new initiative can have for Traveller families.
Media coverage included:
- Child Oral Health in Kerry | Talkabout | Radio Kerry Podcasts | RadioKerry.ie
- New flipbook aims to tackle oral health among Traveller children with poor access to sanitation | Irish Independent
- Child oral health initiative for Traveller families launched in Cork
- Cork-funded booklet aimed at helping Traveller families’ oral health | Irish Independent
- Kerry leads way in new oral health programme for Traveller children | Irish Independent
- New Child Oral Health Initiative For Traveller Families Launched - Tralee Today
The widespread coverage has provided an invaluable opportunity to raise awareness of the oral health challenges experienced by many Traveller families and to showcase the collaborative work undertaken with Traveller Community Health Workers in developing these resources.
We were particularly pleased to see strong interest in the initiative's community-led approach, with media discussions focusing on the importance of culturally relevant health information, accessible resources and empowering families with practical oral health knowledge. These themes have been central to the development of the programme from the outset.
We would like to thank all journalists, broadcasters and media outlets who helped share the message over the past week, as well as our partners in Cork, Kerry and across the Traveller community whose expertise and commitment made this initiative possible.
The positive response reinforces the importance of ensuring that every child has the opportunity to enjoy good oral health from the earliest years of life.
As we continue to roll out the initiative and support Community Health Workers through training and outreach, we look forward to building on this momentum and reaching even more families in the months ahead.
For more information about the Child Oral Health Initiative for Traveller Families and to access the resources, click here.