Program Implementation Considerations...

My goal is to help Head Start children to have better oral health. I believe that these kids are being neglected when it comes to oral hygiene. I would like to implement a program that would allow these kids to form habits and enjoy oral hygiene.

Objectives/Activities:
* I would like to educate these kids. I believe that these kids are maybe not taking care of their teeth because they don't know of the importance. I would like to make this education fun and rewarding for the children.
* I also need to educate the parents! They can be the one's to remind the kids to brush at home.
* I would like to be able to reinforce this program at school by having the children brush after the two meals that they eat at school.
* I would like to have fun calendars for each one of the kids. They would be able to put a sticker on the calendar after brushing. At the end of the week, the kids could take their calendars (home and school) to the teacher and the kid who brushed their teeth the most times that week would get to wear a ribbon on their shirt for the whole day. This would make them feel proud to be the winner (and also have better oral hygiene habits).
* We could throw a party at the end of the month if our goal for better oral hygiene is met (check on brushing calendars).
* It would be good to have a dentist come to the Head Start Program and do free sealant's, or exams once every couple of months. This way, we could ensure that the kids are given the care that they need.
* I would like to have supplies donated. We would need oral hygiene aids for each child to have at home and at school. I would want to have bright toothbrushes with graphic's that the kids would like, fun flavored toothpaste, and flossing aids (because their little fingers might not be able to get in the hard to reach spots).

Implementation:
In order to carry out my goal, I will need support from many others! I can not do this alone!
* I will need to have some kind of meeting with the parents. In this meeting, I could show them pictures or poor oral health, quote them prices for dental work, and encourage them to help their children have better oral hygiene. I would tell them my plan with the calendars and ask for their help.
* I will also hold a meeting with the teachers. I am going to have the children brush after the two meals at school--but this needs to be reinforced by the teachers! The teachers need to feel that their role is very important--because most of this program for better oral health is going to be taking place at school.
* For the calendars, I would maybe call around to different companies and see if they have something like this already formed. If not, I could create one, then have them color copied. I might need some donations for this--or see if it could come out of the school funding.
* As for the dentist, I would need to call around to some dentists in the area and see if any of them are interested in doing charity for these children once a year (then if I had a couple of different dentists, they would be able to rotate).
* I would need to call different companies (Crest, Oral-B, etc.) to see if they would be willing to donate toothbrushes, toothpaste, fluoride and floss. They might even be able to donate the supplies that the dentist will need when he comes!

I feel that this can really work! I believe that if these kids have positive reinforcement and rewards, they will be more willing to participate in my plan. They won't see this as improving their oral health, but actually having fun and getting stickers, ribbons and parties. But in the meantime, they will have formed habits which will improve their oral health over a longer time period.