Providing Access to Dental Care for Kids
Affiliation addresses 30.8% of Santa Cruz County Children Who Have Never Been to the Dentist
“Oral health has always been an important focus of our program,” stated Encompass Head Start Program Health Manager Hannah Hayes. She continued, “Having Dientes provide dental care at our preschool locations has gone a step further by giving low-income families the opportunity to overcome major barriers to care like transportation, having to take time off work and trying to get an appointment. It is easier for families and kids get the care they need. It is a win-win!”
The Angela Agbayani Center is one of 12 Encompass Head Start programs that altogether provide preschool care for nearly 400 kids. The Dientes partnership has enabled them to see one-quarter of these children in just the first year.
Dientes Outreach Manager Tana Stragalinos, explains, “We have grown our Outreach Program to 35 locations with this new partnership. It is really all about access to care for low-income kids. We want all children to have a dental home so they can grow up with a healthy smile.”
Head Start has been improving the lives of low-income children and families in Santa Cruz County since 1965 through high-quality, comprehensive child development, and family support services. Head start supports school readiness and promotes healthy families through delivery of education, health and social services.
For more information, go to: www.encompasscs.org/child-and-family-development/head-start
For more information about the needs assessment and the Oral Health Strategic Plan 2017-2020, go to: oralhealthscc.org