AmeriCorps Connect

Provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service

Providing oral health care to low-income communities

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Abstract

The Taunton Student Health Corps AmeriCorps program provides outreach and screening for uninsured and underinsured people in the region south of Boston. The Mobile Oral Health Program and the Oral Health Center provide free and sliding scale services in convenient locations to community members with low incomes. This effective practice was featured in the National Service News, Issue no. 134, June 11, 2001, published by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

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Issue

In the state of Massachusetts, 86 percent of dentists don't accept patients covered by the MassHealth health care program, the single state agency in Massachusetts that administers Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Affordable health care, including oral health care, is a major problem nationwide.

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Action

The Taunton Student Health Corps AmeriCorps program provides outreach and screening for uninsured and underinsured people in the Taunton area south of Boston. AmeriCorps members and medical professionals have partnered to provide health screenings that identify untreated cases of diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and other diseases.

The Health Corps created the Taunton Oral Health Collaborative to provide oral health services to students of Taunton Public Schools. Oral health is a special concern because 86 percent of dentists in the state don't accept patients covered by the MassHealth health care program. AmeriCorps members and dental professionals provide free dental exams and diagnoses, X-rays, cleanings, and other services. More complex cases are referred to dentists willing to serve MassHealth and uninsured patients on a sliding fee basis.

The Mobile Oral Health Program brings services to the schools, which means less classroom time is lost. Parents don't have to take time out from work and travel long distances to find low-cost services. The children even learned to love going to the dentist. On one occasion the clinic was located on the stage of a school auditorium for lack of other space, and the kids thought they were acting in a play.

In November 2001 an Oral Health Center opened at Taunton High School. The center provides services to both children and adults. Due to recent changes in state funding, adults are not provided the full coverage afforded to children. However, adults are offered services on a sliding payment scale. The Health Corps has found that most people on low-incomes are willing to pay for dental services, they simply can't afford to do pay the large deposits often required by dentists.

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Context

The Taunton Student Heath Corps enlists local graduate and undergraduate nursing and health education students to provide primary care, health promotion, and disease prevention services in community based settings. This experience prepares health education students for future public service in the community and broadens the scope of community based health education opportunities, while increasing access to healthcare for the uninsured and underinsured. AmeriCorps members provide to the greater Taunton community in four main areas:

Delivering clinical services at the Taunton Student Health Corps sites
Informing the uninsured and underinsured of available primary care services through outreach campaigns
Providing wellness, prevention, disease and injury prevention services
Providing health education, prevention, health screenings and assessments at various community based sites

The Oral Health Collaborative responds to a major concern of community leaders, health care providers and residents of the area. It's an effective partnership involving AmeriCorps, the schools, United Way, Morton Hospital and Medical Center, the Dorchester House community health center, and a local health services coalition. Dentists and dental assistants from Dorchester House provide clinical services. Collaborative partners meet monthly to review program goals and, when necessary, solve problems.

The Mobile Oral Health Program has received grant funding from the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. The United Way of Greater Attleboro/Taunton has provided grant funding from its "Success by Six" initiative to pay for dental care for children from low-income families who don't qualify for MassHealth or the Children's Medical Security Plan.

The Oral Health Center received significant funding from Delta Dental Plan of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. In addition, the center received financial and in-kind donations from several local businesses, foundations, and community groups. Taunton High School provides 1700 square feet of campus space at a rate of one dollar per year to house the center.

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Outcome

Through the efforts of the Student Health Corps and its partners, previously untreated dental problems are addressed and children learn proper oral hygiene. Dental services are available to all children, though the emphasis is on those from low-income backgrounds. Since the initiative began in February 2001 dental procedures have been provided to 1800 children, with some children requiring as many as 9 visits. Some 862 sealants were administered to prevent future tooth decay.

For the AmeriCorps members, all of whom are planning or actually studying for careers in the health professions, the program is a great way to develop skills they need to be successful in the health care field while serving their community.

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