ACTION Health ‘Save Our Smiles’ program coming to Kelly Elementary Tuesday, Thursday
MEDIA RELEASE
February 24, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Allison Clark, Executive Director
ACTION Health
Phone: (570) 275-9150
allisondclark@verizon.net
ACTION Health ‘Save Our Smiles’ program coming to Kelly Elementary Tuesday, Thursday
LEWISBURG, PA (February 24) – ACTION Health’s Dental Task Force will be providing the ‘Save Our Smiles’ (SOS) programs to 1st graders at Kelly Elementary on Tuesday and Thursday from 8:40 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. as part of National Children’s Dental Health Month. Thus far, over 1,200 students have participated in the program.
“Save Our Smiles is about helping children become aware that keeping gums and teeth healthy prevents pain and decay before they happen,” said Donna Fritz, RDH outreach coordinator of ACTION Health. Donna is a practicing dental hygienist and has been providing care to our community for many years.
ACTION Health’s Dental Task Force partnered with its member agencies and the Department of Health to develop the unique SOS curriculum that seeks to make children more aware of the importance of healthy gums and teeth. The train the trainer portion of the curriculum was recently presented to the Elks’ Nurses in Gettysburg, Pa, and was well-received in area schools last spring.
The programs, put on at 21 local schools by community volunteers and ACTION Health staff in small classroom-sized settings, aim to plant an early, positive seed in the minds of 1st graders about making the right choices to keep teeth and gums healthy.
“We believe that we can improve dental hygiene in our communities by teaching children early on how to brush properly and eat well, in addition to visiting the dentist regularly.” said Allison Clark, executive director of ACTION Health.
As an added component, students can participate in a coloring contest to win a fun prize basket worth over $35. A student from each school building who demonstrates a creative and thorough understanding of what it takes to keep a healthy smile will be chosen as a winner. Their artwork and descriptions will be featured at ACTION Health events and publications.
2009 marks the 60th year that February has been recognized as Children’s Dental Health Month by the American Dental Association (ADA). Throughout the month, both public and private groups and agencies promote dental health and the ADA’s objectives, and offer support to community-based initiatives to improve the dental health of children.
The vast majority of our five county service area has been designated as a Dental Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) by the Department of Health, demonstrating a critical shortage of dentists necessary to care for residents. According to the Dental Task Force, children face an even greater risk; therefore, early education is necessary and beneficial.
The Dental Task Force will also be attending the Evangelical Community Hospital’s annual Children’s Health Fair on January 31 at the Susquehanna Valley Mall in Hummels Wharf. Staff and volunteers will be sharing parts of the SOS curriculum with attending children.
For more information, please contact ACTION Health at (570) 275-9150.
About ACTION Health
ACTION Health is a collaborative partnership in the Central Susquehanna River Valley that provides community health outreach and education. ACTION Health strives to be the recognized leader in providing quality, innovative, easily accessible health programs focused on enhancing community services and developing new initiatives to address unmet health and wellness needs. It is divided into six separate task forces, comprised of volunteers and agency partners, each focusing on a specific health need or population. ACTION Health is also the designated SHIP (State Health Improvement Plan) partner for the five service counties of Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties, working collaboratively with over 65 agencies to meet the unmet health needs and improve the health status of the people in our communities.
The ACTION Health Dental Task Force provides education and outreach on dental health and hygiene and advocate for access to dental services for all populations in our five counties.
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