Gupta RS, Pascoe JM, Blanchard TC, Langkamp D, Duncan PM, Gorski PA, Southward LH. 2009. Child health in child care: A multi-state survey of Head Start and non-Head Start child care directors. Journal of Pediatric Health Care 23(3):143-149.

This study determined and compared health consultation, screening prevalence, and childhood health risk of Head Start and non-Head Start centers. The survey found marked differences between child health concerns and practices reported by directors of Head Start and non-Head Start centers. For example, even after adjusting for race and public assistance, children who attended Head Start centers were perceived to be at greater risk for oral health problems than those who attended non-Head Start centers.

Kopycka-Kedzierawski DT, Bell CH, Billings RJ. 2008. Prevalence of dental caries in Early Head Start children as diagnosed using teledentistry. Pediatric Dentistry 30(4):329-333.

This article describes a study on using teledentistry technology to assess the prevalence of dental caries in children (ages 12 to 60 months) enrolled in inner-city child care centers in Rochester, New York. The authors found that dental caries was present in almost half of the study sample. Very few children appeared to have been to a dentist or to have received treatment for caries. The authors conclude that teledentistry offers a potentially efficient and cost-effective means of screening and tracking young children with early childhood caries (ECC) or who are at high risk for ECC and could be a way to help families without access to oral heath care establish a dental home.

Mathu-Muju KR, Lee JY, Zeldin LP, Rozier RG. 2008. Opinions of Early Head Start staff about the provision of preventive dental services by primary medical care providers. Journal of Public Health Dentistry 68(3):154-162.

This study examined the opinions of Early Head Start staff in North Carolina on the ability of physicians and nurses to identify children with oral health problems and to provide preventive oral health services during medical visits. The study also determined whether staff knowledge and attitudes about oral health and access to care affected their opinions about physicians' role in oral health care. The authors found that the majority of Early Head Start staff in North Carolina believed that primary care medical offices can provide preventive oral health services for young children.

Mofidi M, Zeldin LP, Rozier RG. 2009. Oral health of Early Head Start children: A qualitative study of staff, parents, and pregnant women. American Journal of Public Health 99(2):245–251.

This study reports the findings of focus groups conducted to gather information about the oral health knowledge, attitudes, and activities of Early Head Start (EHS) staff, parents, and pregnant women in North Carolina in six major themes: (1) the importance of oral health for young children and pregnant women, (2) the consequences of tooth decay for children and families, (3) communication between parents and EHS staff about oral health, (4) oral health practices at home, (5) provision of oral health professional services for children, and (6) recommended educational activites for EHS programs.

Center for Law and Social Policy. 2008. Early Head Start participants, programs, families, and staff in 2006. Washington, DC: Center for Law and Social Policy. 2 pp.

This fact sheet uses data from the Head Start Program Information Report to describe the characteristics of children enrolled in Early Head Start and their families and the services provided to them during the 2005-2006 program year. Data are presented on participants, families, programs, and staff.

Dorn, EM. 2004. The tooth book: A guide to caring for your child's teeth. Minneapolis, MN: Delta Dental Plan of Minnesota, Minnesota Head Start Association, and Parents in Community Action. 22 pp.

This booklet for parents emphasizes the importance of good oral health care for infants, children, and adolescents, providing age-appropriate information for the the following developmental periods from birth to 18 years. Topics include oral hygiene for each period, when to schedule the first dental visit, establishing good eating habits, teaching toothbrushing techniques, pacifier use, and accidental tooth loss. The publication is available in English/Spanish, English/ Somali, and English/Hmong versions.

Hamm, K. 2006. More than meets the eye: Head Start programs, participants, families, and staff in 2005. Washington, DC: Center for Law and Social Policy. 8 pp.

This policy brief describes the characteristics of children enrolled in Head Start and their families and the services provided to them during the 2004-2005 program year. The data cover 3- and 4-year olds enrolled in Head Start; pregnant women and infants and children under age 3 enrolled in Early Head Start; infants and children from birth to age 5 enrolled in Migrant and Seasonal Head Start; and children enrolled in American Indian and Alaskan Native Head Start programs.

Lowe E., Holt K. 2009. Be an oral health champion. Washington, DC: National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center. 4 pp.

This booklet provides information on oral health for staff, teachers, parents, and other caregivers as they interact with students and their families in Head Start. Contents address the impact of poor oral health in young children and opportunities to prevent these problems.

Minnesota Head Start Association, Minnesota Dental Association, Minnesota Dental Hygienists' Association, Apple Tree Dental, and Pfeffer, M.. 2008. Minnesota community collaborative practice Head Start oral health model: A strong start and guide for the future. Duluth, MN: Minnesota Head Start Association. 4 pp.

This document describes Minnesota's efforts to implement the Community Collaborative Practice Head Start Oral Health Model to expand the role of allied oral health professionals to increase compliance with the federal Head Start program performance standards. It includes a timeline of policy and regulatory initiatives, evaluation methods, key findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

Rodgers T., Chen X. 2009. 2009 Head Start oral health survey report. Des Moines, IA: Iowa Department of Public Health, Oral Health Bureau. 4 pp.

This report describes the process and results of the Spring 2009 open-mouth survey of children enrolled in the Iowa Head Start program. Contents include a description of the objectives, methods, results, and a discussion of the baseline survey and how Iowa compared to national averages. Statistical data are provided on age, race/ethnicity, and oral health status.

Tein, N. 2009. Developing an oral health Medicaid portability model for migrant and seasonal Head Start children: An expert meeting—Meeting summary report. Washington, DC: Altarum Institute. 16 pp.

This summary reports on a meeting held on March 10-11, 2008, in Washington, DC, on opportunities and challenges in addressing Medicaid eligibility and enrollment for children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers enrolled in Head Start. The report examines Medicaid portability, that is, the ability of Medicaid services to "follow the child" from one state to another. The analysis presents an overview of Medicaid eligibility and enrollment and approaches to increasing Medicaid enrollment and portability for children in Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs, using Head Start programs as a mechanism for identifying and enrolling children in Medicaid. A companion presentation is also available.

 

Academy for Educational Development Center for Early Care and Education
• American Indian Technical Assistance Network (AI-TAN)

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD)
• Find a Pediatric Dentist
• Head Start Dental Home Initiative
• Regional Consultants

Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
• Oral Health

Early Head Start National Resource Center (EHS NRC)

Head Start Resource Center (HSRC)

Head Start-State Collaboration Offices

Indian Health Service Head Start Program

Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Technical Assistance Center
• Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Program Center Locator Directory

National Head Start Association (NHSA)

Office of Head Start (OHS)
• Head Start Program Performance Standards and Other Regulations
• Head Start Locator