Page 89 - Wellness Program 2022

STUDENTS
Physical Education
& Physical Activity Environment &
Health Services EMPLOYEES Engagement COORDINATING POLICY, PROCESS, AND PRACTICE Counseling, Social Services Social & Emotional & FAMILIES
Nutrition
Community
Involvement
Services
Psychological
Family
HEALTHY SAFE
CHALLENGED SUPPORTED ENGAGED
Physical
Environment
Employee IMPROVING LEARNING AND HEALTH Health Climate
Wellness Education
Health
Services
COMMUNITY
Preventive Dental Services
The Dental Sealant Project, supported by Quantum Foundation and the Marjorie S. Fisher Fund, has provided
over 38,400 dental screenings and placed over 101,000 sealants on second grade students since 1997.
The mobile dental team from the Florida Department of Health Palm Beach County (FHPBC) continued its
commitment to provide this program in 36 Title 1 Elementary Schools (see list below). This program utilizes
a state of the art two-chair mobile clinic on wheels called the “Tooth Fairy”. The team collaborates with school
nurses and community partners to refer sealant program participating children needing urgent dental care.
This year, the dental sealant team regained normal access to the students in schools after overcoming
COVID-19 issues for the past 2 years. The program added 4 new schools and initial contact was made with
an additional school. A total of 35 out of the 36 schools listed below were served during FY22. Two (2)
of the schools chose not to participate due to unforeseen circumstances. Staffing issues were a challenge,
however the program screened 1,637 second grade students and provided 4,758 dental sealants, and 1,629
fluoride varnish applications. Data showed nearly 41% of students had untreated dental decay and 8.6%
needed urgent dental care. These rates were higher than the national average. The program also reevaluated
202 third grade students who had sealants placed in the previous school year for retention of sealants.

Elementary Schools Participating in the Dental Sealant Program in FY22:

¾ Barton Elementary, Belle Glade Elementary, Belvedere Elementary, Benoist Farms Elementary, Dr. Mary
McLeod Bethune Elementary, Forest Park Elementary, Galaxy E3 Elementary, Glade View Elementary,
Gove Elementary, Greenacres Elementary, Highland Elementary, Hope-Centennial Elementary,
Indian Pines Elementary, K.E. Cunningham/Canal Point Elementary, Lake Park Elementary, Liberty
Park Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Meadow Park Elementary, Northmore Elementary, Pahokee
Elementary, Palm Springs Elementary, Palmetto Elementary, Pine Grove Elementary, Pioneer Park
Elementary, Pleasant City Elementary, Rolling Green Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, Rosenwald
Elementary, South Grade Elementary, Starlight Cove Elementary, Village Academy, Washington
Elementary, West Gate Elementary, West Riviera Elementary, Westward Elementary, and Wynnebrook
Elementary.

The School Oral Health Project is a self-sustaining preventive dental program providing screenings,
education, and fluoride varnish to all grades in seven (7) of the Title 1 schools listed above (i.e. Barton
Elementary, Greenacres Elementary, Indian Pines Elementary, Lake Park Elementary, South Grade Elementary,
Washington Elementary, Wynnebrook Elementary) and 1 migrant program. It also collaborates with school
nurses and community partners to refer participating children needing urgent dental care. This program
did not operate during the 2021-2022 school year. Program staff were reassigned to the dental sealant
program to address staffing challenges. Normal operations are anticipated to start again next school year.

The Florida Department of Health Palm Beach County Dental Program’s “Coordinated Oral Health Access
Referral Program” (COHARP) is a case management and referral program to help school children with acute
dental needs. These children were referred from either the Dental Sealant Program, the School Oral Health
Project, RAMS Health Clinic at Palm Beach Lakes Community High, or from the school nurses in the District.
Children identified with immediate dental needs had the ability to be seen for urgent care in one of the FDOH
community partner clinics.

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