The local Partnership works
with many different local agencies who provide services to children and families and works
to identify needed programs and services as well as resources to meet those needs. Often,
programs exist but are not being utilized. Sometimes duplication of services are noted.
The Partnership was formed to eliminate those duplications and fill the voids in the
service delivery system.
By blending and leveraging existing resources
and providing funding through Smart Start - the following programs are made possible to
the young children:
Child Care Health Consultant All
families need to have access to medical care and a clearly defined
medical and dental home. A healthcare professional, trained as a
Child Care Health Consultant, will assure that all children in
regulated childcare in Northampton County will have required health
assessment, immunizations, and that identified developmental needs
receive appropriate follow-ups. The consultant will work
directly with families and childcare providers to focus on activities
which will improve health, safety, and nutrition in regulated child
care settings. Startup
for Children's Dental Services A dental
hygienist and/or dental assistant will provide oral health education
and materials to all families, children, and child care providers,
conduct preventive screenings and make referrals, make phone calls to
parents of patients to remind them of appointments and aid in
arranging transportation to help decrease the number of no-shows
often associated with Medicaid patients. The dental hygienist will help
families establish dental plans for prevention for children 0-5
through "happy visits" to the dentist's office, emphasizing
the importance of optimum oral health from the beginning. The
dental hygienist and/or dental assistant will perform 32-hours/week of
community outreach in Northampton County day care centers and in the community at large. Approximately 200 children will be screened
and 300 packets provided. |
