November 9, 2011 DHI Update
The DHI Update is a bi-weekly digest of news, information, and resources for Head Start Dental Home Initiative consultants, Head Start State Collaboration directors, State Head Start Association directors, Regional Program Managers, and other partners.
NEWS
Researchers Seek Solutions to Oral Health Disparities
Citing “very clear evidence” linking socioeconomic status and oral health, the closing speaker at the American Association for Dental Research symposium urged new approaches for prevention and service delivery among underserved populations, including children. Dr. David M. Williams, a London-based professor of global oral health, said that a failure to use known prevention approaches leads to persistent disease and oral health disparities. "We need to shift from downstream victim blaming," he said. "We need to think about upstream, effective prevention." Other speakers reported on studies targeting children and pregnant women.
Stark Oral Health Findings on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
In a baseline oral health assessment at South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, 84% percent of the 157 school-age children examined had at least one decayed tooth. On average, each child had two decayed primary teeth and two decayed permanent teeth. The study authors, including Colorado STL Dr. Anne Wilson, suggest the high prevalence of oral health problems may be attributable to behavioral risk factors and barriers to care. The findings of the Kellogg Foundation-supported study were released at a meeting of the National Congress of American Indians on November 2.
DHI Leaders Comment on Study
Bonnie Bruerd, ROHC for Region 11, comments that Pine Ridge is in one of the poorest counties in the United States and represents one end of the oral health spectrum in the Region, while Oklahoma is at the other end. She emphasizes that dental disease varies greatly among AI populations.
South Dakota STL Dr. Thane Crump reports that the South Dakota Oral Health Coalition will convene a Tribal Oral Health Committee Summit to follow up on the ideas put forth in an October statewide oral health summit. "The goal is to provide action for the Native American peoples in South Dakota" he said. He also hopes to emulate North Dakota’s free dental day at a new clinic in Eagle Butte, SD. Dr. Crump is looking at plans to re-deploy the Partners for Prevention Program, which trains allied healthcare providers in caries-risk management and prevention.
STL Conference Call Takes Place this Evening
More than 25 STLs and ROHCs plan to participate in a meeting that will focus on ROHC October 27 meeting follow-up, promising state practices, PIR issues and STL activities. A full report will be included in the next Update.
DHI Update Holiday Schedule
The next issue of DHI Update will be published on December 7, 2011.
RESOURCES FOR PROGRAMS
New PIR Program Data Reports in Development
HSRC staff are producing new state reports with the latest PIR data for oral health. The reports feature 2010-2011 program-level data on the percentage of children who:
• Have dental homes
• Have had dental exams
• Received treatment among those needing treatment
• Received preventive care
The reports will allow state teams to identify Head Start/EHS programs most in need of DHI assistance. Reports will be sent to DHI teams in every state and region by January, 2012. If you have an urgent data need, please contact Whit Laga, wlaga@pal-tech.com.
Parent, Family, Community Engagement (PFCE) Webcasts Now Available on ECLKC
Because family engagement is crucial to children's long-term oral health, DHI leaders may wish to review new webcasts offered by OHS’ National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement. The webcasts address School Readiness, Parent and Family Engagement Outcomes, Program Leadership and Family Engagement, Children's Learning Development and Family Engagement.
CONTACT US
Federal DHI Leadership
Marco Beltran, DHI Project Lead, Office of Head Start
Marco.Beltran@ACF.hhs.gov or 202-205-7844
Dr. Conan Davis, DHI Technical Consultant
conand@uab.edu or 205-996-2724
Head Start Resource Center (HSRC) Staff
Patrice Pascual, Project Lead, ppascual@pal-tech.com or 703-247-8307
Adriann Hawkins, Sr. Health Systems Analyst, ahawkins@pal-tech.com or 703-908-8862
Lynn Olson, Project Specialist, lolson@pal-tech.com or 703-908-8877
Whit Laga, Project Specialist, wlaga@pal-tech.com or 703-247-3506
Sophia Robinson, Contract Specialist, srobinson@pal-tech.com or 703-247-8322 (Sophia is the primary contact for billing and reimbursement questions.)
Next DHI Update: December 7, 2011