AAPD and Head Start are partnering at the national, regional, state, and local level to develop a national network of dentists to link Head Start Children with dental homes.
A dental home means that each child's oral health care is delivered in a comprehensive, continuously accessible, coordinated and family-centered way by a licensed dentist.
A national network of pediatric dentists and general dentists will be created to provide quality dental homes for Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) children; train teams of dentists and HS personnel in optimal oral health care practices; and assist HS programs in obtaining comprehensive services to meet the full range of HS children’s oral health needs. This partnership will also provide parents, caregivers and HS staff with the latest evidence-based information on how they can help prevent tooth decay and establish a foundation for a lifetime of oral health.
Regional consultants will assist state leadership teams in development of collaborative networks throughout the state. Networks will consist of local dentists and HS personnel as well as other community leaders who work together to identify strategies to overcome any barriers to HS children’s access to dental homes.
About Head Start
The Head Start program provides comprehensive developmental services for low-income preschool children between the ages of three and five and support services for their families. Head Start provides diverse services consistent with goals for: education, health, parent involvement and social services. Programs administered by the Office of Head Start also provide services for children of American Indian and migrant worker families, and include Early Head Start programs, which expand the benefits of Head Start to pregnant women and children from birth to age three.
Opportunities for Involvement
We are moving forward with the beginning phases of network development. It is our intention to approach the issue of oral health access in a planful manner, beginning at the regional level then moving to the state and local levels. As we proceed, we will be maintaining communication with everyone who has expressed an interest in the initiative and working to ensure that linkages are facilitated thoughtfully, increasing the likelihood of the development of successful long-term collaborative relationships between the dental and Head Start communities.
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Matthew's Story
Click to view one Head Start child's oral health story.
Related Information
Deamonte Driver's Story
State Head Start Locations
Head Start Regions
Head Start Partnership Press Release
The Head Start Dental Home Initiative
Additional Links
Head Start Locator
Office of Head Start
National Head Start Association
National Head Start Oral Health Resource Center
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