Head Start/Early Head Start
HS/EHS Performance Standards Relevant to Oral Health
Performance Standard 1304.20 (a)(1)(ii)
(ii) Obtain from a health care professional a determination as to whether the child is up-to-date on a schedule of age appropriate preventative a primary heal care which includes medical, dental and mental health. Such a schedule must incorporate the requirements for a schedule of well child care utilized by the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program of the Medicaid agency of the State in which they operate, and the latest immunization recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as any additional recommendations from the local Health Services Advisory Committee that are based on prevalent community health problems.
Performance Standard 1304.20 (c)(3)(i) & (ii)
(3) Dental follow-up and treatment must include:
(i) Fluoride supplements and topical fluoride treatments as recommended by dental professionals in communities where a lack of adequate fluoride levels has been determined or for every child with moderate to severe tooth decay; and
(ii) Other necessary preventative measures and further dental treatment as recommended by the dental professional
Performance Standard 1304.20 (c)(5)
(5) Early Head Start and Head Start funds may be used for professional medical and dental services when no other source of funding is available. When Early Head Start or Head Start funds are used for such services, grantee and delegate agencies must have written documentation of their efforts to access other available sources of funding.
Performance Standard 1304.20 (d)
(d) Ongoing Care. In addition to assuring children’s participation in a schedule of well child care, as described in section 1304.20 (a) of this part, grantee and delegate agencies must implement ongoing procedures by which Early Head Start and Head Start staff can identify any new or recurring medical, dental or developmental concerns so that they may quickly make appropriate referrals.
Performance Standard 1304.20 (f)(1)
(f) Individualization of the program
(1) Grantee and delegate agencies must use the information from the screenings for developmental, sensory, and behavioral concerns, the ongoing observations, medical and dental evaluations and treatments, and insight from the children’s parents to help staff and parents determine how the program can best respond to each child’s individual characteristics, strengths and needs.
Performance Standard 1304.22 (a)
(a) Health emergency procedures
Grantee and delegate agencies operating center-based programs must establish and implement policies and procedure to respond to medical and dental health emergencies with which all staff are familiar and trained.
Performance Standard 1304.23 (b)(3)
(2) Staff must promote effective dental hygiene among children in conjunction with meals.
Performance Standard 1304.40 (f)(1)
(f) Parent involvement in health, nutrition, and mental health education
(1) Grantee and delegate agencies must provide medical, dental, nutrition and mental health education programs for program staff, parents and families.
Performance Standard 1304.40 (f)(2)(i), (ii) & (iii)
(2) Grantee and delegate agencies must ensure that, at a minimum, the medical and dental health education program:
(i) Assists parents in understanding how to enroll and participate in a system of ongoing family health care;
(ii) Encourages parents to become active partners in their children’s medical and dental health care process and to accompany their child to medical and dental examinations and appointments; and
(iii) Provides parents with the opportunity to learn the principles of preventative medical and dental health….
Link to National Head Start Oral Health Resource Center
The purpose of the National Head Start Oral Health Resource Center (NHSOHRC) is to assist the national Office of Head Start/Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB)oral health initiative in enhancing the quality of oral health services for pregnant women, infants, and children enrolled in Head Start.
The resource center serves as the principal vehicle for the collection, review, and dissemination of Head Start oral health technical and programmatic information and materials.
Activities include:
- Collecting print and electronic materials, organizational information, and model program descriptions into our resource collection. Items in the resource collection are accessible online and available for loan.
- Answering information requests on topics related to Head Start oral health services.
- Presenting and exhibiting at national and regional conferences.
- Collaborating with Head Start oral health partners and other organizations to enhance endeavors, leverage resources, and reduce duplication of effort.
Provides timely information about Head Start oral-health-related national campaigns and initiatives, Web sites, data releases, materials, and journal articles.
What's Happening at the State of Michigan Level?
Oral Health Profile- Michigan
Find Out if Your Water is Fluoridated
MIChild and Healthy Kids Dental Descriptions and Oral Health Highlights
MIChild - The MIChild insurance program is a state and federally funded initiative which makes health and dental coverage available to uninsured low and middle income Michigan children under 19 years of age who do not qualify for Medicaid.
Delta Dental is a supporter of MIChild, and serves as an administrator of dental benefits for the program. Delta Dental uses its dentist networks to serve MIChild enrollees. MIChild enrollees who select Delta Dental as their carrier must go to a dentist who participates in the MIChild program or services will not be covered.
How to Use Your MIChild Program
MIChild Summary of Benefits
MIChild Dentist Directory
Healthy Kids Dental - In May 2000, Delta Dental expanded its commitment to Michigan communities by teaming up with the Michigan Department of Community Health to help improve the dental health of those in greatest need. With support from the Michigan Dental Association, the public-private partnership developed the Healthy Kids Dental (HKD) program to improve access to dental care for underserved children.
The program, which is available to Medicaid-eligible children in 59 Michigan counties, has over 200,000 enrollees. Nearly 91% of dentists who treat children in those counties participate in HKD.
Healthy Kids Dental - How Does It Work?
Healthy Kids Dental - Eligibility
Counties Covered (PDF)
Healthy Kids Dental - Covered Services
Healthy Kids Dentist Directory
Curricula by Target Audience
Early Head Start:
Cavity Free Kids: An early start- Oral health education for pregnant women, infants and toddlers
Help me smile: Oral health risk assessment protocols, training modules, and educational materials for use with families of young children
Open wide: Oral health training for non-dental health and human services providers
Parent, It's Up to You!: Oral health manual for progeny, education and parenting program
Teeth for Two: Oral Health Education Tools for Pregnant Women and New Families
Tooth Time: A Dental Education Curriculum for Preschool Children Ages 2 through 5
WIC lesson plans: A teacher's guide for creating healthy smiles
Head Start:
Bright Smiles, Bright Futures: An oral health and early literacy program for Head Start and early childhood programs
Cavity Free Kids: Oral health education for preschoolers and their families
Tooth Fairy Island
Dental health education curriculum guide for use with Head Start children and families
Head Start lesson plans: A teachers guide to creating healthy smiles
Health and safety in the child care setting: Promoting children's oral health
Help me smile: Oral health risk assessment protocols, training modules, and educational materials for use with families of young children
Open wide: Oral health training for non-dental health and human services providers
Oral health supplemental curriculum resource
Tooth Time: A Dental Education Curriculum for Preschool Children Ages 2 through 5
WIC lesson plans: A teacher's guide for creating healthy smiles
For more information about topics addressed, availability and cost view here.
Oral Health Links
Links to organizations, resources, funding opportunities for oral health, especially 0-5.
