Schools participating in Seal a Smile

PRLog (Press Release) - Jul. 2, 2012 - The program is put on by the state and Walworth County Health and Human Services. Information and permission forms are sent home for students and their parents. If families are interested in participating in the program, dental hygienists who come to the school will apply sealants to the teeth of second and fifth graders. The students for Dat Canada also learn how to brush their teeth properly.

The three elementary schools in the Delavan-Darien School District are participating in a Seal-A-Smile Program for second and fifth grade students.

The program is put on by the state and Walworth County Health and Human Services. Information and permission forms are sent home for students and their parents. If families are interested in participating in the program, dental hygienists who come to the school will apply sealants to the teeth of second and fifth graders. The students also learn how to brush their teeth properly.

Following the exam, the students receive a goodie bag with a toothbrush and toothpaste to take home.

The program is free for students and their families. The dental experts bring the dental chair, lights, and tools to the school, making it easy for the students to receive the treatments. The photos were taken at Darien School. Check out for DAT test preparation.

Here’s more about the Seal-A-Smile program.

Wisconsin Seal-A-Smile(SAS) is a statewide sealant program that offers grants to local school-based programs targeting underserved children. These community efforts involve a variety of health care professionals including public health, school nurses, dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants. A combination of volunteers and paid professionals organize SAS programs. Some programs include dental cleanings, retention checks of dental sealants and topical fluoride applications.

The grant funds are used for a variety of program activities. Some SAS programs are sustained by very high numbers of volunteer staff and use their funds to buy supplies. Other SAS programs have in kind donations of disposables, sealant material, and supplies so their funds may be used to offset staffing expenses. The SAS program offers flexibility to accommodate unique community needs.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) contracts with Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin to manage the SAS Program.

• SAS is funded through State of Wisconsin General Purpose Revenue (GPR), HRSA funding and supplemented by community in kind support and donations.

• In accordance with Governor Doyle’s Kid’s First Initiative – SAS GPR state appropriations increased from $60,000 to $120,000 in 2005. In addition, DHS allocated a HRSA workforce grant of $82,000 per year from 2006-2009. From 2009-2012 HRSA funding was increased to $241,000 annually. Delta Dental of Wisconsin provided $241,000 annually for two years as a match to the HRSA funding

• The Wisconsin SAS Program is in its 11th year of operation.

• Grantees for 2009-2010 include the following local health departments: Adams/Marquette, Bayfield, Clark, Dane/Madison, Eau Claire, Juneau, Kenosha, Portage, Price (Iron/Ashland), Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, Vilas (Forrest/Oneida), Walworth, Waupaca, Waushara and Wood County Health Departments. Additional programs are being administered by Brown County Oral Health Partnership, Columbia St. Mary’s Seton Dental Clinic, CESA #11-Rural Health Dental Clinic( Polk/Barron/Burnett/Washburn/St.Croix/Dunn/ Chippewa/Price Co’s), Door County Memorial Hospital, Ft. Atkinson Community Health Clinic, In Health Community Wellness(Grant/Crawford Co’s), Janesville School District, Lakewood Community Health Center (Oconto), Neenah Healthy Smiles, Pembine Schools, Preferred Dental Associates of Wisconsin LLC (Racine), Superior Schools, and the Waukesha County Community Dental Clinic.

• Grants for 2010-2011 range from $1,500-$100,000.

• During 2000-2010:

1.   Number of Children who have been Screened: 71,540

2.   Number of Children who have received Sealants: 46,031

• According to the SAS Program Report for 2009-10:

1.   Of the 16,950 children screened, 10,206 had sealants placed and 6,235 children were referred for further dental care.
2.   o36.7% of participants had untreated decay.
3.   o5.8% of participants were referred with urgent dental needs.
4.   21,983 students received oral health education through SAS.

For more information please visit www.chawisconsin.org or contact Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin: Matt Crespin – Oral Health Project Manager, 414-292-4002, or mcrespin@chw.org

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Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/11913691/1