Dental Hygienists and Head Start Programs
Dental decay in children 5 years old and younger remains a major health problem in the United States, especially for low income children. Poor oral health leads to chronic pain, and affects a child’s ability to chew food, speak, and can delay learning and development.

Recognizing the need to improve oral health status and services for low income children and families, Head Start initiated a series of Oral Health Partners Forums to develop collaboration between Federal, State and local agencies. In October 2003, public health dental hygiene leaders from ADHA met with Dr. John Rossetti, DMD, Oral Health Program Consultant with the Maternal Child Health Bureau to foster collaboration between ADHA and Head Start. With the ongoing support of an interagency agreement between the Head Start Bureau and Maternal Child Health Bureau and others; dentists and dental hygienists now serve as Oral Health Consultants at the regional level and provide coordination, training and technical assistance for programs to enhance the provision of oral health services for Head Start children and their families.

Three dental hygienists, all members of ADHA, are now filling the role of Head Start Regional Oral Health Consultant in Health and Human Services Federal Regions I, VI and VIII. From Region 1 Mary Foley, RDH, MPH, currently the state dental director in Massachusetts; Mary now applies her considerable expertise and public health background working with Head Start in this new role. Kathy Geurink, RDH, MA is a faculty member at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio and the Oral Health Consultant for Region 6. Kathy also serves as the Head Start Oral Health Project Coordinator for the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD). The ASTDD has formed a Head Start Oral Health Advisory Committee bringing about several projects most notably funding state oral health partners forums for Head Start. Valerie Orlando, RDH, BS is Immediate Past President of the Colorado Dental Hygienists’ Association and a part time faculty member at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry.

We have a wonderful opportunity to work together to promote oral health awareness, education and action in our communities through working with Head Start. Improving access to dental services as well as promoting oral health status and disease prevention is our goal. Dental Hygienists who would like to become more involved with Head Start or provide support for ADHA / Head Start collaborative projects should contact Tim Lynch at ADHA Governmental Affairs timly@adha.org.