In 1998, Washington Dental Service (WDS) and WDS Foundation established the Cavity Free Kids (CFK) program, which seeks to eliminate tooth decay in children from infancy through elementary school age. The initial target population includes migrant and settled farm-workers, and a large Native American reservation. This region of central Washington is underserved by dental providers and there are 70,000 Medicaid-insured children under age 20. The goal of CFK is to create self-sustaining systems that incorporate education and increased services for patients, training and funding for dental providers and health professionals, and education and support for community-based organizations. For patients, this initiative provided funding in 1999 to implement Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) programs, oral health education in summer camps and $400,000 to fund fluoridation in two city water systems. Continuing education is also provided to medical staffs at hospitals and a loan repayment program for dentists working in underserved populations was established. Community based organizations are encouraged to include oral health in their programs and are included in partnerships wherever possible. The evaluation of CFK entails collection of surveys and data from the three target populations at baseline and the end of the three-year intervention. A sample of Medicaid-insured patients receiving regularly-scheduled services was surveyed. Dentists were surveyed regarding knowledge and practice of pediatric dentistry and ability to work with the Medicaid-insured population. Community-based organizations were surveyed regarding knowledge and implementation of dental referral services. The results of the baseline surveys will be presented at this time.
Learning Objectives: 1. Recognize system approaches to improving oral health at the community level 2. Describe multi-disciplinary strategies for maximizing oral health in communities 3. Discuss oral health outcome measures
Keywords: Oral Health Outcomes, Community Involvement
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.