School-Based Comprehensive Oral Health Services Project

The School-Based Comprehensive Oral Health Services (SBCOHS) Project is a new project spearheaded by the Solano Coalition for Better Health (Coalition). The SBCOHS Project is a 4-year comprehensive dental treatment project whose target population is children aged 0 to 18 living in Vallejo, CA. The Coalition is partnering with the school-based health center (SBHC) at Elsa Widenmann Elementary School in the Vallejo City Unified School District, an evaluation team from Touro University of California, a registered dental hygienist (RDH) and 2 private practice dentists whose offices are based in Vallejo, CA.

This oral health services project proposes to integrate oral health with primary care services at the Elsa Widenmann SBHC by providing preventive and restorative dental care, community outreach, oral health education, and referrals to school students, their siblings, and to children aged 0 to 5 in nearby School Readiness programs. Oral health services will also be available to children aged 0 to 18 living in nearby communities.

The primary goals of the SBCOHS Project Project are:

• To establish, maintain, and continuously improve an integrated oral health program within the Elsa Widenmann SBHC that incorporates preventive and restorative services, community outreach, oral health education, and tracking and referral
• To provide dental treatments for 2,275 individuals by the end of the 4 year project
• To provide oral health educational services to 1,200 individuals per year of the project
• To evaluate and disseminate the program’s outcomes for the purpose of expanding the model to similar venues

We aim to provide the following services at the Elsa Widenmann SBHC:

• Screenings
• X-rays
• Fluoride varnish
• Sealants
• Cleanings (prophylaxis)
• Case management
• Prevention-based oral health education
• Basic restorative services
• Follow-up procedures
• Urgent and emergent dental services

History

In October 2011, the Coalition received approval for an $800,000 grant distributed over 4 years from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through the Maternal and Child Health Bureau department.

The Coalition started meeting with the project team shortly after this extremely fortunate turn of events. The project team has worked steadily since then, in order to prepare the Elsa Widenmann SBHC for integrated primary and dental care services by February 14, 2012.

Partners

• Elsa Widenmann SBHC Staff
• Vallejo City Unified School District
• Touro University California, Public Health Program
• First 5 Solano

Contact

For questions or concerns, or to schedule an appointment with the RDH, please contact the Widenmann SBHC staff at (707) 556-8921 ext. 56551. Please provide your name and a contact number so that we may get back to you as soon as possible.

If you’d like to speak with a representative from the Project Team in regards to donations, partnerships, and other opportunities, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .