KING COUNTY, WA - Kids Get Care, a new program to ensure all children in King County regardless of insurance status receive a basic level of preventive physical, oral and developmental health care services, has received a new $113,700 grant from the Washington Dental Service Foundation. This new grant was awarded to Public Health - Seattle & King County, through the King County Health Action Plan, to strengthen the capacity of Kids Get Care to provide oral health screening, preventive care and restorative services to thousands of low-income infants and children in King County.
"This new grant will help us in our continued efforts to improve the delivery of health services and bridge the health gap between the haves and the have-nots," said King County Executive Ron Sims.
"The goal is to provide comprehensive health services to children so they may live healthy and productive lives," said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.
Although open to children up to 18 years of age, the initial focus of Kids Get Care will be on children up to five years of age in three hubsites in communities with high concentrations of uninsured and underinsured children. These sites are the Odessa Brown Children's Clinic and Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center at the Central Area Community Health Center, the Kent Community Health Center and the Eastside Community Health Center.
Kids Get Care aims to build upon these three hubsites by increasing the number of oral health program sites by one the first year, three the second year and three the third year, reaching a total of 10 sites in the third year. An estimated 15,600 children will be reached by Kids Get Care via the 10 sites over three years.
In King County, among second and third graders, one in seven children has untreated decay, and more than half do not have sealants. Additionally, there are higher rates of tooth decay among children of color, children in low-income households, children who live in non-English speaking households, and children without dental insurance.
"With these kinds of public-private partnerships we can strengthen our health care system and make sure that all kids have access to quality and preventive health care," says Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County.
"Oral health disease is one of the few health problems we can prevent. Yet dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease and continues to be a significant public health problem. Kids Get Care is an excellent opportunity to prevent oral health disease in King County and may point the way for preventive services state-wide," said Tracy Garland, President and CEO, Washington Dental Service Foundation.
"I'm excited to be a part of this collaborative program to address the expansive need for early oral health evaluation and dental disease prevention and treatment for young low-income children," said Chris Delecki, Dental Director, Odessa Brown Children's Clinic.
Kids Get Care represents the culmination of a two-year effort by more than 30 collaborating organizations under the umbrella of the King County Health Action Plan, including the Washington Dental Service Foundation, Washington Health Foundation, Community Health Centers of King County, Harborview Medical Center, the Central Area Health Center, the Talaris Research Institute and the University of Washington, among others. The King County Health Action Plan convenes leaders throughout the health care field to implement public-private joint ventures that integrate health promotion strategies with the current medical system. To learn more about the King County Health Action Plan, please visit: www.kingcounty.gov/health/kchap
The goal of the Washington Dental Service Foundation component of Kids Get Care will be:
- to recruit primary care and family physicians and train them
- to provide oral health screenings and preventive services
- to recruit private-sector dentists to serve Medicaid-eligible children
- to develop creative ways to identify and reach at-risk children throughout the county
- when necessary to pay for treatment for children who do not qualify for Medicaid and whose families cannot afford dental care
This program is one of several innovative programs developed or supported by the Washington Dental Service Foundation. Other Foundation programs include Watch Your Mouth, Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) and the SmileMobile. To learn more about the Washington Dental Service Foundation, please visit www.deltadentalwa.com
Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.8 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day. |
