# Presentation: 510657

## Region 10 Head Start Oral Health Initiative

**Rebecca Slayton, DDS, PhD**, University of Washington, Department of Pediatric Dentistry,
- Region 10 Oral Health Consultant
**Allison Hertel, CHES**, Region 10 & Alaska Native T/TA Health Specialist
**Region 10 Head Start Directors Meeting**
**March 1, 2005**

## Grantee Successes

- Partnerships with local dentists and dental hygienists
- ABCD program established in WA Counties with dental provider support
- Foundation Support ($1000/child donations; $36,000 in treatment)
- Hospital and provider in-kind support
- Students from dental and dental hygiene schools
- Dental professionals on Health Services Advisory Committee
- Dental professionals providing on-site services
- Toothbrushing Activities
*Cavity Free Kids* Curriculum

## Oral Health Forums Summary

- Develop an approach to educate the following about the importance of oral health:
- Policy Makers
- Head Start and Early Head Start staff
- Families
- Non-dental health care providers

## Oral Health Forums Summary

-  Educational Strategies
- Curricula (i.e. *Cavity Free Kids*)
- Websites (Region 10, MCHOHRC)
- Develop materials that are culturally competent
- Identify training opportunities at the local level for      staff and parents
- Conduct presentations for community   professionals

## Oral Health Forums Summary

- Design and implement evidenced-based oral health preventive practices focusing on:
- Oral hygiene
- Fluorides
- Nutrition
- Maternal Oral Health
- Delaying transmission of bacteria
- Feeding practices
- Early dental visits

## Oral Health Forums Summary

- Prevention Strategies
- Toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste in the classrooms.
- Application of fluoride varnish
- Cleaning baby’s teeth and gums daily
- Provide healthy snack and meal options
- No bottles to bed
- Dental care for mothers

## Oral Health Forums Summary

- Identify barriers and strategies for addressing oral health access issues.
- Provider shortage
- Family attitudes and beliefs
- Transportation
- Insurance/Reimbursement

## Oral Health Forums Summary

- Access Strategies
- Develop partnerships with dentists
- “Adopt a Center”
-  Dental clinic in program facility
-  Mobile dental vans
- Assist with transportation options to dentist office
- Engage community partners in developing innovative plans to recruit dentists locally
- Seek funding opportunities to treat uninsured children
- Lobby for changes in policy/reimbursement (i.e. ABCD)
- Engage families in a dialogue around fears, experiences and reluctance to seek dental care

## Partnership Opportunities

- Engage a variety of “change agents”
- State Head Start Associations
- State Collaboration Offices
- Head Start Grantees
- Head Start Families
- Dental Schools and Dental Hygiene Schools
- Dental Associations and Dental Hygiene Associations
- Community Professionals
- State and Local Health Agencies
- Region 10 ACF and T/TA System

## Head Start Oral Health Best Practice/Model

- The definition of an Head Start Oral Health “Best Practice” / “Model That Works” is an oral health component/practice of a Head Start (HS) or Early Head Start (EHS) program that has been fine-tuned, improved and implemented successfully; that produces superior results, demonstrating effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability; and that improves the quality of life through the oral health practices of enrolled children and their families.

## Criteria for Oral Health Best Practice

- Impact
- Efficiency
- Sustainability
- Rational
- Collaborations/Partnerships
- Full Compliance

## Criteria for Oral Health Best Practice

- IMPACT
- The component/practice clearly demonstrates a positive impact on the quality of life of enrolled children in the HS/EHS program and of their families by improving their oral health practices.

## Criteria for Oral Health Best Practice

- EFFICIENCY
- The component/practice clearly demonstrates a cost effectiveness in efficient use of funds and resources, e.g. staffing, time requirements, conservation of materials, etc.

## Criteria for Oral Health Best Practice

- SUSTAINABILITY
- The component/practice clearly demonstrates that the cost benefit and the effectiveness of the effort is maintainable over time.

## Criteria for Oral Health Best Practice

- RATIONAL
- The component/practice is consistent with or based on qualified evidence; has quantitative or qualitative data supporting its effectiveness; and is replicable.

## Criteria for Oral Health Best Practice

- COLLABORATIONS/PARTNERSHIPS
- Where collaborations or partnerships are formed, the component/practice clearly demonstrates that the effective working relationship assures compliance with program performance standards.

## FULL COMPLIANCE
Grantees are in full compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards.

- Grantees are in full compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards.

- Criteria for Oral Health Best Practice

## Elements to Consider in Evaluation Process

- Children connected to a dental home.
- Program guidelines/protocols/policy addressing the prevention, assessment and management of oral disease.
- Program guidelines/protocols/policy on nutrition and oral health.
- Oral health education program for staff, parents/caregivers and/or children.
- Training/education program for non-oral health partners.
- Collaboration/partnership with oral health professionals in meeting program expectations.

## Region 10 – Oral Health Initiative	

**	**
**	**To achieve optimal oral health for all Early Head Start and Head Start children and their families.

## Implementation Strategies

- Support Region 10 states in the implementation of statewide Head Start Oral Health Action Plans.
- Build on the results from the Region 10 Head Start Oral Health Forum to develop a coordinated and strength based approach to implement action items.
- Increase collaborative partnerships with oral health professionals and organizations at the regional, state and local levels.
- Provide Grantees with up-to-date, best practice information regarding oral health.

## Implementation Strategies

- Identify mechanisms to support Grantees in the coordination and delivery of oral health systems and services.
- Focus oral health efforts around health promotion and disease prevention efforts.
- Topical fluoride application – toothpaste, varnish
- Advocate for oral health for mothers
- Identify strategies to assess caries risk in EHS/HS population
- Ensure the validity and reliability of oral health PIR data.

## Implementation Strategies

- Facilitate involvement of the T/TA Resource Team and ACF Program Specialists to support the implementation and delivery of oral health services with Grantees.
- Identify barriers to access and make a plan to address them
- Develop a Region 10 Head Start Oral Health Advisory Committee
- Develop strategies to establish partnerships between Head Start programs and dental providers at the local level.

## Contact Information

- 	Dr. Rebecca Slayton, Region 10 Oral Health Consultant
-  	_[rslayton@acf.hhs.gov](mailto:rslayton@acf.hhs.gov)_
- 	206.615.2614
- 	Allison Hertel, T/TA Health Specialist
- 	_[ahertel@acf.hhs.gov](mailto:ahertel@acf.hhs.gov)_
- 	206.615.3672