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Oral Health AccessOral Health Access for Kittitas County is a program designed to enhance access to dental services for children, low income residents, and other underserved groups and raise the awareness of oral health care in the community. Motto: "When you're smilin'... the whole world smiles with you" Services Available
Access to Medicaid Dental Services
Prevention Programs
ProgramsPublic Schools' Dental Sealants Programs
Children enrolled in Kittitas County's Public Elementary Schools and HeadStart/ECEAP are eligible for dental check ups and sealants at their school. A mobile dental van comes to all of the schools twice during the school season. The School Sealant Program is a collaborative effort between school principals, school nurses, State Department of Health-Oral Health, mobile dental service providers, and the KCPHD Oral Health program coordinator. Kittitas County Public Health-Oral Health provides each school with parent/guardian consent forms at the beginning of the school year. The consent forms are included in the orientation packets that go home with the students during the first week of school. Students who return a signed consent form will be called out of class to the dental van on School Sealant Days. Having a dental check up twice a year keeps kids "on track". Sealants and Fluoride varnish are effective ways of preventing tooth decay. Fluoride Varnish and Free Immunization ProgramOnce a year, the Oral Health Program partners with the Immunization Program at Kittitas County Public Health Department to ensure that children of uninsured families receive immunizations for school and a dental screening with fluoride varnish protection against cavities. The staff is bilingual for Spanish and English. Oral Health Education & fluoride varnish for Moms, Infants, and Toddlers "MITTENS"Pregnant women and infants enrolled in Kittitas County's First Steps program are eligible to receive dental screenings, tooth brush kits, education, and fluoride varnish applications to aid in oral health disease prevention. For more information on the First Steps MITTENS services, please contact Kittitas County Public Health Nurses or the Oral Health Coordinator, (509) 962-7515 Education Programs, Just for GrinsThe "Just For Grins:" program is a multifaceted Oral Health Education program with in Kittitas County Public Health-Oral Health Program. Tooth FairiesOne young lady, out of the Teen Oral Health Educators, is designated as the "Tooth Fairy". She has a special obligation to Kindergarten classes, local Preschools, and Day Care Centers. She reads a story about tooth care or the first visit to the dentist. She brings coloring activities and new tooth brushes. Sheriff Rooty Tooth & The Cavity WranglersTeenagers from Kittitas County's Secondary Schools are recruited through the home-room announcements at school in September. The teens participate in a month long Oral Health Education course at Kittitas County Public Health Department. After successful completion of the course work they are awarded a Certificate. High School students who participate in this program are eligible to receive Community Service hours for the Culminating Project requirements class. The teens plan and prepare class room presentations using standardized materials from the Department of Health (DOH) Tooth Tutor Manual. During February National Dental Health Month, they travel to all of the Kittitas County Public Elementary Schools and give verbal and visual presentations to young students. The teens dress in authentic western costumes provided by KCPHD Oral Health Program. Facts & FiguresGet InvolvedKittitas County Oral Health CoalitionThe Kittitas County Oral Health Coalition is an action council comprised of health care professionals and community leaders. The 15 member coalition meets on a quarterly basis to discuss issues surrounding access to dental care in Kittitas Valley. As far back as 1992, individuals from various agencies came together to discuss strategies to address the issues of access to dental care for the underserved population of Kittitas County. In 2000, an "Oral Health Task Force" was formally organized with representation from Kittitas County Health Department, the Board of Health Advisory Committee, and other health and social service agencies. The Task Force made some headway with the chronic access issues by advocating for access for people with Medicaid and coordinating with mobile dental units to deliver services in various areas of the county. They established the position of Oral Health Coordinator within the Health Department work force. The Coordinator's position was originally funded through a grant written by Coalition members. In 2004 the Task Force restructured into a formal Coalition, with an Executive Board, a Mission Statement, and By-Laws. The membership grew to include several population based service agencies such as HeadStart/ECEAP, Migrant Workers Public School Program, Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health, CW Disability Resources, Aging and Long Term Care, School Nursing Corps, Kittitas Valley Community Hospital, Cle Elum Family Medical Center, Family Dental Care, and community leaders. Under the guidance of the Coalition, the KC Public Health-Oral Health Program has established a successful school sealant program, participated in the Hope Source Back to School Back Pack program, developed several educational programs, and implemented a comprehensive dental care program for residents in Assisted Living Centers. Meetings are held at the Kittitas County Public Health Department the third Tuesday of the month, from 3:30pm to 5pm January, April, July, and October. The Oral Health Coalition welcomes new members. If you are interested in joining or have questions about the Coalition please call The Oral Health Coordinator at (509) 962-7515. Resources & Links |
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