The Healthy Smiles for Wisconsin initiative is a statewide effort to improve the oral health of Wisconsin children through school and community partnerships. The state of Wisconsin received a one-year planning grant from the CDC Division of Oral Health and is entering its second year of a three-year implementation grant. In 1999, the Healthy Smiles initiative had two goals: (1) Develop a statewide plan for working with schools and communities to increase access to oral health education, prevention, and treatment services for school-aged children; and (2) Develop a plan for incorporating school based and school linked strategies into dental hygiene education programs. A statewide coalition utilized three methods to develop plans for improving youth oral health surveillance, dental sealants, and oral health education: (1) Five statewide forums were held; (2) Workgroups were convened to develop plans and resources address each issue; and (3) Surveys of school districts, individual schools, and dental hygiene education programs were conducted to determine the extent of school-based and school-linked oral health activity. Outcomes include (1) the participation of over 500 oral health, education, and youth advocates at five forums; (2) the completion of the Healthy Smiles for Wisconsin, 1999 Wisconsin School District Survey, the 1999 Wisconsin Oral Health Program Profile, and Wisconsin Dental Hygiene Education Profile; (3) the development of the Wisconsin Youth Oral Health Data Collection Plan (WYOHDCP); (4) the development of the Seal A Smile Planning Guide and Dental Sealant Portfolio; and (5) the successful initiation of over 25 community dental sealant programs. See www.healthysmilesforwi.org
Learning Objectives: Gain an understanding of the implementation of a statewide effort to improve oral of children through school and community partnerships. Learn how Healthy Smiles for Wisconsin developed a plan for incorporating school based and school linked strategies into dental hygiene education programs. A review of surveys that were conducted to determine the extent of school based and school linked oral health activity.
Keywords: Oral Health, School-Based Programs
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