First 5 San Diego is pleased to announce that the Offsite Oral Health Services program provided by La Maestra Community Health Centers received a 2017 National Assoication of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award in the Child and Youth category. The La Maestra offiste dental services (ODS) team consists of:
- Dr. Satomi Hinata, DDS
- Civa Barno, RDA
- Eduardo Cardenas, DA
- Alma Angelica Rodriguez, Care Coordinator
The First 5 San Diego Offsite Oral Health Services program provides an opportunity to reach a population in need of access to oral health services by providing dental treatment at First 5 San Diego’s Quality Preschool Initiative (QPI) preschool sites. The objective of the program is to establish a dental home and provide comprehensive oral health services to children in target zip codes within San Diego County. Services began on January 1, 2016 as a component of First 5 San Diego’s Oral Health Initiative (OHI), which has been coordinated by Health Quality Partners of Southern California (HQP) since its inception in 2005. Services are provided through La Maestra Community Health Centers, an established partner to the OHI program that has dental clinics located in close proximity to the QPI sites in the target zip codes.
A portable dental clinic was set up at the preschool sites to provide a wide range of services, from preventative treatment, such as exams and cleanings, to restorative treatment, such as fillings. A dentist, dental assistant and care coordinator make up the OOHS team. The role of the care coordinator is a key component of the services model since it provides assistance to the parents with completing the consent and enrollment forms, scheduling appointments, checking-in the children for appointments and applying for insurance. The dentist and care coordinator also provide oral health education to preschool staff, children and parents.
First 5 San Diego’s Offsite Oral Health Services (OOHS) program supports Live Well San Diego by providing an integrated system of oral health care for young children. First 5 San Diego has developed partnerships with trusted community organizations for on-going sustainability and established the necessary infrastructure to provide a full spectrum of oral health services from prevention to advanced specialty care throughout San Diego County. The collaboration and coordination with community health centers, partners and dental health specialists to fill in gaps in services demonstrates how to best achieve the complex and shared concern of improving children’s oral health and have all children enter school as active learners.
Congratulations La Maestra team!
SDCOE Launches Online Resource with Support of First 5 San Diego
The San Diego Quality Preschool Initiative (QPI) is a systemic approach to assessing, improving, and communicating the level of quality in early care and education programs. It is designed to increase access to high-quality early learning for San Diego County children. All participating providers and educators are committed to quality and have an expressed stake in quality improvement. It is implemented by the San Diego County Office of Education, with funding from First 5 San Diego.
On October 23, 2017 the SDCOE launched a new online resource with support for QPI partners and parents. The new website houses guidance on the essential elements of quality in early care and education, as well as quality rating data on more than 300 local programs – making it the go-to resource for parents and providers. The website covers the complete range of early care and education programs, from infant/toddler programs to center-based preschools to family child care homes.
The website includes sections for families, programs, providers, and community members and funders. Visitors to the site will find topics such as:
- How do I find an early education and care provider?
- Are there other things to look for in a quality early education and care program?
- Rated elements of quality
- An explanation of QPI’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), which is used to assess, improve, and sustain high-quality early care and education programs.
You can learn more about QPI here: https://sdqpi.org