Medical providers can play an important role in improving the oral health of young children, including those enrolled in Head Start programs. These tip sheets are designed to help medical and dental providers identify approaches they can take to improve the oral health of pregnant women, infants, and children enrolled in Head Start.

Each tip sheet provides an overview of the Head Start program, the oral health status of Head Start children and barriers to care, and practical suggestions for how medical providers, dentists, and dental hygienists can become involved with Head Start as individuals and as members of their professional associations.

Help address the oral health needs of Head Start children and families enrolled in your Head Start program. Download these resources and share them with health care professionals in your community.

Read this letter to learn more about how these tip sheets may help health professionals address the oral health needs of pregnant women, infants, and children enrolled in Head Start. Tip Sheet Cover Letter to Head Start Programs [PDF, 66KB]  

Medical providers often see infants and young children earlier and more frequently than do oral health providers. They can be a valuable resource for improving the oral health of Head Start participants. Medical Providers and Head Start: What You Should Know About Oral Health and How You Can Help [PDF, 726KB]

Dentists can do many things to help improve the oral health of Head Start participants, including accepting referrals of children enrolled in Head Start and leveraging their dental associations to help raise awareness. Dentists and Head Start: What You Should Know and How You Can Help [PDF, 691KB]

Dental hygienists can provide oral health screenings and preventative services to Head Start participants, help educate staff, families, and children, and make referrals for restorative treatment. Dental Hygienists and Head Start: What You Should Know About Oral Health and How You Can Help. [PDF, 692KB]

See also:
     Head Start Publications - National Maternal & Child Oral Health Resource Center