Oral Health Promotion, Prevention, and Treatment Strategies for Head Start Families: Early Findings from the Oral health Initiative Evaluation.

Publication Date: September 2007

Publisher: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

Author(s): Patricia Del Grosso; Amy Brown; Heather H. Zaveri; Sandra Silva

Research Area: Health

Keywords: Dental; Early Head Start; Oral Health

Type: Report

Abstract:

Dental caries are a chronic childhood disease that disproportionately affect children living in poverty. This report describes early implementation experiences of 52 grantees implementing oral health models to address this problem. Many used grant funds to hire staff with clinical dental experience. Most formed partnerships with dental professionals, local oral health coalitions, and advocacy groups to increase access to dental care for children and families. Education was central to the models, which provided a range of support services, including transportation, translation, and systems for tracking services.