Healthy Kids Outreach Program Service Fills Dental Needs

It is 8 a.m. on a school day and small groups of students from Jo Lane Middle School are being escorted to the Healthy Kids Outreach Program’s mobile dental van. They step into what looks like a dentist’s office where a dental hygienist greets them with a warm smile. HKOP’s self-contained mobile dental units are just one of the ways Mercy Foundation serves the health and wellness needs of Douglas County’s youth. Since 2011, HKOP’s dental program has provided oral health care in thirty-eight Douglas County schools. Services include a thorough dental screening, fluoride, silver diamine and sealants on untreated molars. Each child receives a take-home oral hygiene kit with a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss and tooth timer. For children with cavities requiring a visit to the dentist, Mercy Foundation helps families get connected to a dentist. In 2013, HKOP launched Dental Learning Lab to teach kids how to take care of their teeth. Michelle Wilfong, HKOP’s dental specialist, teaches the classes, “We cover everything from brushing and flossing to how the choices they make affect their teeth.” Michelle Wilfong adds that many people don’t understand the importance of oral hygiene on overall health, and kids are often afraid to see a dentist. From the beginning, HKOP has followed Oregon Health Authority standards and serves as a model for other programs around the state delivering school-based clinic services and oral health education. Both the Oregon Community Foundation and Oregon Health & Science University recognize HKOP’s Dental Learning Lab as a model of best practices for its age-appropriate, interactive curriculum. Starting with Kindergarten through 3rd grade, children master basic skills and become comfortable sitting in a dentist's chair. Students in grades 4 through 8 learn about nutrition, sports injuries and the effects of tobacco products on their oral health. More in-depth modules about tobacco and drug use are taught in grades 9 through 12, along with the many career opportunities available in the field of oral health. The precursor to the dental program was the Healthy Kids Outreach Program. School administrators reached out to Mercy Foundation and community partners about children’s healthcare needs. Some of the gaps were the results of budget cuts and the loss of school nurses. Other factors were poverty and lack of access to healthcare services, especially in smaller, rural communities. In 2006, HKOP was launched by piloting three part-time Health Resource nurses in five rural schools. The nurses taught nutrition, health and hygiene education. When they identified other health concerns, they supported children and their families with a connection to care. Trina Simmie, HKOP Program Manager, was one of those original nurses. She has witnessed HKOP’s growth and impact. Prior to the pandemic, HKOP nurses were reaching eighteen schools, and its dental program was reaching 10,000 students each year. “Our program has evolved from what our communities need,” Simmie said. “The dental program is one example of listening and responding to the needs of Douglas County children. When HKOP nurses first began visiting schools, toothaches were one of the three leading causes of absenteeism. Since 2011, the number of students requiring follow-up has reduced by 12%, while tripling the number of children we saw.” HKOP is mindful of and grateful for community support and partnerships. “It is because of the community’s investment in our kids, that we are able to make services, such as the mobile dental vans, available,” Simmie said. Because dental care has been identified as an essential health service by the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Education, Mercy Foundation found a way to continue providing it during the pandemic when schools switched to online learning. With support from the Oregon Community Foundation, Umpqua Health Alliance and generous community donors, they were able to re-engineer the vans in order to keep our dental clinics operating. From three part-time nurses, HKOP has grown to a team of eighteen. This includes three full-time Health Resource RNs, plus contracted dental hygienists, assistants and professional staff. HKOP dental is a service families depend upon, and children look forward to having their teeth checked. “It is always exciting to see the kids,” lead dental hygienist Karla Wilfong said. “Because services are offered in the schools, it makes them more comfortable seeing a dentist.” Karla Wilfong said she wants kids to love seeing the dentist as much as she did when she was a kid. Watching the JoLane students, chatty and eager for their turn to have their teeth screened, it is clear by their smiles that they are very comfortable and HKOP’s commitment to serving our youth is also evident in those smiles. To learn more about Healthy Kids Outreach Program, please visit www.mercygiving.org/hkop.html