The Community Oral Health Program (COHP) works in collaboration with schools and community partners to increase access to oral health services by linking children, youth and families to no or low-cost dental resources. This program includes both the Children's Oral Health Program and the Local Community Health Improvement Plan. The Children's Oral Health Program began its efforts to improve the health of Contra Costa County children and youth in 1977. More recently, COHP has expanded its role to include understanding, assessing and working collaboratively with community partners to impact Contra Costa County's oral health system– developing a comprehensive community health improvement plan.
Children's Oral Health
Children's Oral Health Program
The Children's Oral Health Program works with local schools to provide preventive oral health services:
Education: Children learn the proper way to brush their teeth, how to prevent cavities, and how good nutrition helps keep their teeth healthy. All children receive free toothbrushes.
Screenings: Licensed dental professionals perform visual screenings to check the health of children's mouths.
Sealants: Children in grades 2-6 are screened to determine if they need dental sealants on their permanent molars. Sealants are a thin, plastic coating. They help reduce the risk of developing cavities, in the chewing surface of molars.
Kindergarten: The Program offers assistance to schools to help fulfill State law, AB1433, which requires that children entering public schools for the first time, in kindergarten, must have a dental check-up.
Community Collaboratives & Events
We provide preventive oral health services to youth at juvenile detention facilities and at the Calli House Youth Shelter.
Our Program participates in a variety of community outreach events in collaboration with our partners such as First 5 Resource Centers, Head Start, Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Collaborative, Loma Vista Dental Assisting Program, Diablo Valley College Dental Hygiene Program and the Contra Costa Dental Society.
Local Oral Health
Local Oral Health Program
Contra Costa has developed a community health improvement plan, as well as an oral health systems map of the county that identifies oral health resources and gaps. CCHS leaders and community stakeholders have identified seven oral health priorities for Contra Costa.
The Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment (KOHA) helps to ensure children are healthy and ready for school. Like screenings for vision and hearing, California has a law that strongly encourages children to receive an oral health screening as part of school entry by their first year of school in either kindergarten or first grade. There are two ways to complete the screening: at a dental office or through a school program.
Once the KOHA form is completed, schools enter the information into the SCHOR data system. This helps State and local counties understand the number of children suffering from untreated dental decay and provides necessary resources to communities. By completing this screening, parents also help ensure their child gets connected to early preventive dental care. This can lead to fewer school absences due to tooth infections or pain.
Improving our children's oral health requires a successful partnership between parents, schools, healthcare providers and community organizations.
For more information on how you can participate, please scroll below.