title: Public-private collaboration to improve oral health status of children enrolled in Head Start in New York City.
abstract: A comprehensive oral health care program for Head Start children in New York City is described. Head Start is a federally funded pre-school program for low-income families and their children. It provides activities that help children grow mentally, socially, emotionally and physically. In 1994, a public-private partnership was created between New York Administration for Children's Services and New York University College of Dentistry. The program consists of periodic visits to different Head Start centers by a dental team composed of pediatric dentists, residents, hygienists and students. At the center, the team provides diagnostic and preventive services to children and oral health education to children, parents and staff. Referrals are then made to the College of Dentistry or to a community provider for treatment and follow-up. Free transportation is provided between Head Start centers and the college clinic. Over 13 years, 25,000 children have received diagnostic, preventive and treatment services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA. jbf2@nyu.edu
authors.forename: Jill B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Neal G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: Linda R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daronch
authors.forename: Amr M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Moursi
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D006801:Humans; D009519:New York City; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships