GRANT00353

Continued support to Florida Dental Hygiene Association to expand on the existing Head Start/ Early Head Start initiative by developing a system of care approach to include community, care, funding, and policy. Working with local, state, and national leaders to secure funding and support to increase oral health literacy will ensure expansion of this mode so all children in Florida will have the opportunity to receive comprehensive oral health care. This initiative continues to build upon the work and lessons learned from the Massachusetts Head Start Association’s work in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and produced an innovative pilot approach in Florida to increase the oral health care outcomes within the HS/EHS populations. The HS/EHS populations in Florida continue to have significant need for improved oral health care and prevention. FDHA is addressing these key needs by replicating a successful model of care coordination by dental hygienists, offering training and resources to dental and non-dental providers including a focus on preventative care, and training HS staff to work with children and families to increase their oral health literacy.