Evaluating school health services by academic outcomes and administrative data

In 2000, Children International at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (CI), with the Arkansas Department of Health and 13 organizations, launched a program for elementary students in the Little Rock School District, an urban district (62 per cent Title I-eligible students). In 2003, the District rebuilt an elementary school to include the Future Smiles Dental Clinic, opening in 2005 and employing a manager, dental assistant, and dentist under CI's direction. Rotating dental hygiene students clean teeth, apply sealants, and teach hygiene.

Funds come from CI, Medicaid or state program for indigent children, grants, and gifts. The clinic does not serve children with private health insurance.

Each fall volunteer dentists screen students from seven of the district's 31 elementary schools. In 2007-8, middle school students served by CI participated. Indications at screening make students eligible (with parental permission).

Since 2005, the clinic has applied sealants to 757 teeth of 253 students. In 2005, 2006 and 2007 it served 363, 1,172 and 1,072 students, respectively (total 2,607 students).

The clinic captures identifying students' information, which enables scheduling them for annual exams. It also allows using academic and other health data to help ascertain clinic benefits.

School attendance rates of these children improved slightly during the past three years, and both language and math (normal curve equivalent) scores on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills increased modestly (1.2 and 1.8, respectively) with variations among grades. This presentation explores both qualitative and other quantitative information analyzed by the District.