Oral health plays a critical role in enhancing a child’s overall readiness to learn in school. Imagine a preschool-age child suffering from the excruciating pain of a toothache, trying to participate in an early literacy activity. The child may be unable to focus on learning to read and would likely be absent from school. Since its inception in 1998, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County has led a countywide effort to promote comprehensive oral health services for children ages 0-5 to shape a child’s readiness to learn.

In the U.S., one out of every four children is born into poverty and at increased risk of experiencing severe and untreated decay. The effect of poverty on access to oral health care led FIRST 5 to integrate oral health services into its 2001 School Readiness Initiative, which was launched in four low performing/high potential school districts: Alum Rock, Franklin-McKinley, Gilroy Unified, and San Jose Unified.

These were targeted areas where children ages 0-5 throughout Santa Clara County were able to access oral health services within the FIRST 5 System of Care. The inclusion of the oral health component was one of the reasons that First 5 California hailed our School Readiness Initiative as a model.

Effective community programs to promote oral health and reduce health disparities require strong community partnerships.

FIRST 5 has forged instrumental partnerships with the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, The Health Trust, Gardner Family Health Network, the Health Mobile, Santa Clara County Family Health Plan (Healthy Kids and Healthy Families insurance), and the aforementioned four school districts.

Through a process of collaboration, children ages 0-5 can now access comprehensive oral health services that are inclusive, responsive, and both developmentally and culturally appropriate to all families. It is our hope that through this coordinated local movement, we will continue to make significant strides in improving children’s oral health.