New program hopes to get kids brushed up on dental health
By Kristina Nelson, KCBY NewsNORTH BEND, Ore. - Educating young students about oral health is the goal of a new project set to launch this fall in elementary schools on the South Coast. MultimediaCoos County Public Health, in partnership with the Oregon Community Foundation, will be launching the new South Coast Children's Dental Health Initiative this fall in schools in Coos and Curry counties. The foundation awarded a $500,000 grant to it's South Coast Leadership Council to develop the 3-year program, which will focus on dental prevention and treatment among area students ages kindergarten through 3rd grade. "There will be screening and education for all students, is my understanding," said Coos County Public Health Administrator Frances Smith. "Here will be some treatment for those children who are in pain and do not have health insurance." Smith says volunteers and staff working on developing the project, found that dental health is a big issue. "One of the highest reasons for absenteeism, in elementary school children, was dental pain. There are so many people who don't have access to a dentist either because they don't have health insurance or don't have the ability to pay themselves." Right now they are in the process of hiring staff to supervise the project in the schools. The program should be up and running by the fall. Most Popular |
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February 6, 2012
- Coos Bay / North Bend, Oregon
