Program Information

Project Overview

The overall purpose of the WIC: Building Collaboration for Oral Health is to increase the number of at-risk one year olds who receive preventive dental services, access early dental care and have a relationship with an identified dental provider by developing and implementing systems that will enable WIC to serve as the entry point for dental care for these children.

For most low-income children, access to any dental care is poor. Access to early care at the recommended age one first visit is practically non-existent.  According to California’s Medicaid, Dental Program (Denti-Cal) claims data, only 0.43% of kids under one; 3.4% of 1-year-olds, and 13.6% of two year-olds had a dental visit in 2006.  

In California, the nation’s largest WIC program, 82 local agencies serve about 1.38 million participants at 623 local centers. Over 60% of infants born in California receive WIC services. These children could all be classified as at-risk, by virtue of their socio-economic status.  Because WIC serves the majority of low income children in the State, it is an underutilized resource for providing dental care.

Children enrolled in selected WIC agencies will receive age appropriate preventive care—assessments and fluoride varnish, as well as parent education/anticipatory guidance. Referrals to dental providers will be made if the child’s condition warrants attention. Parents will be encouraged to take their child to a local dentist within the next 6 months to establish a dental home.  Care coordination will be provided to educate and motivate parents and to assist in overcoming the barriers of geography, language, fear, and finances as well as barriers that are inherent in public insurance programs.

The Project will start with 2 Pilot sites involving partnerships between a WIC Agency and a dental program

• Alameda County Public Health Department
• Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services

San Ysidro Health Center in San Diego, which is already providing dental visits at its WIC sites, will serve as the benchmark site.

In Years 2-3, the project will add 3 new partnerships per year in counties throughout the state.

Requirements for Project Participation

To participate in this project, WIC agencies must demonstrate interest in oral health and provide space to administer services.  Space may include waiting room, classroom, cubicle, etc.  Additionally, interested agencies must either have or be willing to establish a relationship with a dental partner that has the capacity to provide services at the WIC site and can facilitate restorative care as needed.