Oral Health for Mendocino County
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and the theme this year is, “Water, Nature’s Drink!”. Choosing water over sugary beverages can reduce your risk of weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and cavities. In recognition of Children’s Dental Health Month, CDC developed a free new activity book (attached) for young children. This booklet can be printed at home to help children learn good oral health habits, and can be found on our Children’s Oral Health page.
We’d also like to remind you about CDC’s State and Community Health Media Center, which has a rich collection of free and reduced-cost, audience-tested advertising and campaign materials on chronic disease-related topics. Produced by state and local health departments, nonprofit organizations, and federal agencies, the purpose is to share best practices, audience research, and communications materials to save time and costs for producing and placing tested advertising for chronic disease prevention.
In particular, we would like to bring the following resource to your attention:
- Cut the Sugar – a digital and print campaign, available in English and Spanish, designed to increase awareness of the types of drinks that include added sugar and the health consequences of consuming sugary drinks.
- Dental Health Tips for Children - Dr. Navneet Mansukhani, DDS, the Dental Director at Mendocino Community Health Center, wrote an article for Health Matters, in the Ukiah Daily Journal. Topics include: For the babies and toddlers, Choose healthy snacks, Share good bacteria and Knocked-out teeth or other dental trauma.
Celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month with us by pledging to be a good oral health role model for children. Children learn by watching adults. Help them practice healthy dental habits by setting a good example. Write your name in the comments below to take the pledge.
Use the hashtags: #SmileCalifornia #NCDHM
Celebre con nosotros el Mes Nacional de la Salud Dental Infantil comprometiéndose a ser un buen modelo de salud bucal para los niños. Los niños aprenden observando a los adultos. Ayúdelos a practicar hábitos dentales saludables dándoles un buen ejemplo. Escriba su nombre en los comentarios a continuación para tomar el compromiso.
Utilize los hashtags: #SmileCalifornia #NCDHM
Utilize los hashtags: #SmileCalifornia #NCDHM
In January, 2018 the California Department of Public Health released their California Oral Health Plan for 2018-2028. By doing so, the State has made a commitment to improving the oral health of California residents.
In early 2018, Mendocino County, Health and Human Services, Public Health, Prevention and Planning Unit was one of 61 Local Health Departments who was awarded 5 years of funding from the State of California, Department of Public Health to develop and implement a county-wide Oral Health Plan with the primary focus for the underserved and vulnerable populations. In addition, priority service areas will be provided to Kindergarten through sixth grade students.
The funding for the Oral Health Program was provided by the Proposition 56 Tobacco Tax Increase, which appeared on the November, 2016 State ballot. Over 60% of the voters approved the tobacco tax and the State began collecting the funds in April, 2017.
In March 2018, an Oral Health Advisory Committee was formed to develop a strong foundation to improve the oral health and overall health of the residents throughout the County of Mendocino. Its members consist of dental providers and stakeholders from a wide range of client services. This committee was facilitated by Meredyth Reinhard, Oral Health Program Coordinator. Healthy Mendocino is on this Committee. The Advisory Committee meets monthly at Public Health in Ukiah and is the backbone of the Program. They worked on developing a Community Health Needs Assessment during 2018. In November 2018 the Mendocino County Oral Health Needs Assessment Report was published.
After implementing the Community Needs Assessment, the Oral Health Program developed a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) for 2019-2022 which was published in July 2019. It is aligned with the needs of Mendocino County and is guided by the State of California, Department of Public Health, Office of Oral Health's California Oral Health Plan.
Click on the images to view the reports:
If you would like more information contact:
Bhavvy Ducharme
Oral Health Program Coordinator
707-472-2614
ducharmeb@mendocinocounty.org
Author:
Meredyth Reinhard, Oral Health Program Coordinator
Resource Date:
August, 2019
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