SASKATCHEWAN REGION Prepared by: Mary-Lou Sanderson – COHI Coordinator

Oral Health Coalition MeetingMay 1, 2013

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Children’s Oral Health Initiative (COHI) Program

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Outline of Presentation:•What is the COHI Program?•Goals of the COHI Program•COHI Targets groups and why they were chosen•What are the COHI services?•Roles of the dental therapist and Aide•COHI Funding Work Plan•COHI Deliverables

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The COHI program is a population based, early oral intervention program for First Nations children (living on reserve) and eligible Inuit children

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What is the Children’s Oral Health Initiative Program?A dental program designed to prevent and control early childhood tooth decay

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Rationale: COHI was developed to focus on the understanding that tooth decay is a transmissible disease and fully PREVENTABLE

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Goals of COHI ProgramImprove oral health for children, and, in doing so, improve their overall healthTeach parents and caregivers how to prevent dental diseases for themselves and their childrenPrevent early childhood tooth decay and avoid the need for unpleasant dental treatmentIntroduce babies and young children to dentistry that is successful, painless and fun

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A Health Canada dental initiative that began in September 2004

In 2004, COHI was introduced on a limited basis. There were 5 FN communities involved during this first year

COHI officially became a program in May 2010

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SASKATCHEWAN REGIONNUMBER OF FIRST NATION COMMUNITIES: 40

Eligible Population AANDC Statistics

Children

0 – 7 Years

5,236

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FNIHB – Health CanadaCOHI – SK Region

Dr. Glenn Schnell, Assistant Regional Dental OfficerMary-Lou Sanderson, COHI CoordinatorEight dental therapists, provide service delivery to 40 communitiesPart-time positions ranging from 13 – 28.5 hours per week

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COHI Target GroupsChildren aged 0-7Parents & caregivers of children aged 0-7Pregnant women

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Children aged 0-7 were chosen because….Decayed teeth are painful for children and can result in a failure to thrive

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To address the alarming rate of rampant tooth decay

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Too many children under the age of 6 require dental surgery under general anaesthetic (GA)Some children are receiving more than

one GA to treat dental disease

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H e a lth C a n a d aF ir s t N a tio n s a n d In u it H e a lth B r a n c h

N a t io n a l P r e s e n ta t io n 2 0 0 2

C r e d it :D r . T . K r a w a t

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Pregnant women, parents, and caregivers were chosen because….Tooth decay is caused by a bacterial infectionWhen adults don’t care of their own mouths, they can transmit the bacteria which causes tooth decay to children

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Benefits of COHI

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What are the COHI Services?Screenings (checking the teeth)Fluoride Varnish Applications

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Sealants

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Alternative Restorative Treatment (ART)

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One on one or small group oral health sessionsPromotion of xylitol products

Referrals as required

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Who provides COHI services?

COHI Dental Therapist – Health Canada

COHI Aide – Community Member

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Role of the COHI Dental TherapistProvides training, guidance and direction to the COHI AideCompletes screenings, sealants, and temporary fillings (ART)Provides education & information regarding oral healthReferrals if necessary

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Build capacity in the community by linking with other programs to reach target groups

The dental therapist may have to assume some of the COHI Aide’s role when necessary

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Role of the COHI AideProvides the very important link between the community and the dental therapistRequires training as provided by Health CanadaWorks with the dental therapist when preforming dental services (screenings, ART & Sealant clinics)

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Collects authorization forms• No COHI services can be provided

without a signed authorization• Child is in the program until no longer

eligible• Regardless if there is a completed

authorization form a child’s medical history must be updated each COHI year

• COHI Year – September 1 to August 31

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Completes medical history updates

Application of the all the fluoride varnishes on the children

Provides oral health information sessions (one-on-one)

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COHI Funding Work PlanFunding is formula-based, utilizing population numbers of children aged birth to 7 years of ageThis formula determines the number of professional days for the dental therapist and the COHI Aide

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Funds for the Aide are transferred via Health Funding Agreements to the community

37 COHI Aides - not full-time positions

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Reporting Requirements for the HFASubmission of Dental Services Daily Records (DSDR) at the end of each month – COHI AideCompletion of Community-Based Reporting Template at the end of fiscal year - CommunityCompletion of Financial Reporting on as outlined in the HFA - Community

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COHI DeliverablesThere are target objectives that have been identified across Canada for the COHI Program:

1.Enrol a minimum of 40% of the eligible children aged 0-4 and 70% of the eligible children aged 5-7

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2. Complete dental screening for 90% of all authorized children aged 0-7 (screening done each year)

3. Complete all required fluoride varnish applications (2) for 70% of all authorized children aged 0-7

4. A minimum of 40% of prenatal clients participating in an oral health information session

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How is success measured?Partnerships are developed between COHI staff and the community, i.e. with nurses, school staff, day care providers, health centre staff, community programs….and especially with the families

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COHI needs community support:A key factor in the success of COHI is the “community support”….the dental therapist and the COHI Aide need the support of the entire community in delivering the services and the message!!

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QUESTIONS?