Region VII Activities in Oral Health

By Marcia Manter

In July, 1999, Region VII Head Start began expanding its capacity to ensure quality oral health services for children and families in each state. This growth was sparked by exceptional collaboration among organizations and individuals, all committed to the same goal. The information and excitement generated at the National Oral Health Forum, held in Washington, D.C., in September 1999, served as a catalyst for our work.

Many strategies are being used to accomplish our goal. Each state Head Start Association and Community Development Institute (Region VII QIC) conducted a survey to document the access to dental care in each county. The survey results have been used to communicate information pertaining to the barriers to oral health care to legislators, Medicaid staff, and dental associations. Iowa Head Start Association incorporated the data in a resolution for state political leaders and the Iowa Dental Association signed the resolution.

Each state Head Start association has addressed prevention and access issues for children at risk. Two state associations have held oral health caucuses with state government leaders, politicians, dental professors, dental association executive directors, and dental hygienist association board members. In each state, the Head Start collaboration director has played an active leadership role in building and sustaining the partnerships with these individuals and groups.

In July 1999, the Community Development Institute responded to the issue of oral health by creating an Early Head Start Oral Health Demonstration Project. The goal is to determine what strategies community health partners and EHS staff can use to ensure that each EHS child reaches his or her third birthday without experiencing oral health problems. The study will generate useful information about building community partnerships and designing an effective curriculum to address the oral health needs faced by EHS families. Three EHS grantees in Nebraska are now implementing the project: Lincoln Action Program (Lincoln), Central Nebraska Community Services (Loup City and Columbus), and Salvation Army (Omaha). Dr. Kim McFarland, Nebraska state dental director, has given her support, and two pediatric dental professors have stepped forward with guidance and direct services to families.

Dr. Michael Kanellis, professor of pediatric dentistry, University of Iowa School of Dentistry, has inspired his Masters in Public Health dental students to address Head Start's need to better teach children to care for their teeth. For instance, in May 2000, the UI faculty offered the workshop "Oral Health Risk Assessment and Prevention for the Head Start and Child Care Health Community."

The Kansas Medicaid office gained a waiver from HCFA so that Head Start can be Medicaid providers. This gives programs greater access to a wide range of dentists and saves the program money. Even if they have to pay the full amount for dental services from a non-Medicaid dentist, they can collect a percentage by filing the Medicaid claims.

Missouri Head Start has accepted the lead in the state to convene and facilitate the oral health education committee, which is part of the statewide consortium to address access to dental care. Chris Groccia, Head Start collaboration director, and several Head Start managers are active participants in this group.

At the Surgeon General's Conference on Oral Health, Dr. Diane Gastmann presented the Iowa Head Start Dental Access Survey results. Thirty-six state government, political, dental, and early childhood leaders from Kansas also attended this conference. The group, sponsored by United Methodist Health Ministries Fund, intends to hold a strategic planning session based on their learning at the conference. Head Start is represented in this group and will offer strategies for grantees to play a significant part in improving access to oral health in the state.

As a result of the regional and state activities, Region VII Head Start anticipates improved access to quality oral health care for high-risk children. In addition, all of our grantees are committed to increasing their roles in prevention, oral hygiene for children and families, and parent and community education.

Marcia Manter is a Professional Development and Health Coordinator, Community Development Institute, Region VII Head Start Quality Improvement Center, T: 816-356-5373, ext.13; E: mmanter@aol.com.