Program introduces children to dental care

Name of program: Access to Baby and Child Dentistry

What it does: Dr. Kim Thorburn, health officer at the Spokane Regional Health District that the program helps Medicaid-eligible kids from birth to age 6 get access to dental care. The health district also coordinates training of volunteer dentists who may not be used to treating children. The dentists are reimbursed by Medicaid.

The health district also provides case management to help parents make and keep appointments with the dentists.

“There is real evidence that this program is working,” she said.

Who runs it: The program is a collaborative effort between the Spokane Regional Health District, the Spokane County Dental Society, and the University of Washington.

How to get help: Children who are either enrolled or eligible for Medicaid can get help from the program by calling 324-1478.

There also are booths at health fairs where trained volunteers help parents sign up their children.

Typical client: Thorburn said that the children who go through this program are from low-income families that don’t have a lot of dental-care experience.

Since the program has been in place for a while, that is starting to change.

“We’re seeing younger siblings,” she said.

How to give help: Volunteers are always needed to help enroll children at health fairs.

“We want to let people know that this program is here and we want to get them enrolled.”