A program for oral health screenings in Migrant Head Start and Ute Tribe Head Start centers identifies children with oral health needs and connects their families to local dental care.
Why is early dental care important to a young child’s overall health and well-being?
Oral health is an essential part of overall health and well-being. Cavities are the most common chronic disease in children. Oral health affects speech development, eating, self-esteem, and social interactions. Children with cavities in their primary teeth are 5 times more likely to have cavities in their adult teeth.1
Children should receive regular dental check-ups. Regular dental appointments at an early age prevent oral disease and set children up for success later in life. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children see a dentist after his or her first tooth appears in the mouth or by their first birthday, whichever comes first.
Oral health training with the University of Utah Physician Assistant Program
A unique interprofessional collaborative program has been established to meet the needs of Migrant Head Start and Ute Tribe Head Start children. Head Start programs serve children from age 0 to 5 years old. In 1995, the Physician Assistant (PA) program at the University of Utah began offering medical wellness screenings to all of the Migrant Head Start centers in Utah. The need for oral health care was identified during these screenings. In 2011, the Physician Assistant and Department of Health & Human Services Oral Health Programs partnered to address oral health needs. Today oral health is part of the PA school’s curriculum. Each cohort of PA students receives education on how to perform oral health risk assessments and apply fluoride varnish.
When the opportunity arose in 2018, the Oral Health Program and the University of Utah PA program committed to replicating the Migrant Head Start delivery model at the Ute Tribe Head Start Center in Fort Duchesne, Utah. Additionally, two local partners were brought in to supplement this program: the Fort Duchesne Indian Health Center and Uintah Basin Technical College Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program.
“Today, the partnership operates as a coordinated effort to deliver comprehensive healthcare to children in the Uintah Basin. Through “one-stop shop” events hosted at the Head Start building in Fort Duchesne, children receive a full range of services, including physical exams, vision and hearing screenings, lead testing, hematocrit, and oral health evaluations. The program also emphasizes continuity of care by connecting families with local resources for necessary follow-up services.
This collaboration not only advances the Utah PA program mission to improve healthcare access in rural communities, but also models a respectful, culturally informed approach to care. By building trust and strengthening community ties, the initiative supports both immediate health needs and long-term wellness in the region—all while meeting federal Head Start Performance Standards.”
Joani Clayburn Interim Director/Education Specialist, Ute Indian Tribal Head Start
In both the Migrant Head Start module and the Ute Tribe Head Start module, children with parental consent receive medical screenings, oral health visual assessments, and fluoride varnish applications. Students from the University of Utah Physician Assistant program and nursing students from Uintah Basin Technical College provide services under the supervision of their respective faculty members.
Slight differences do exist between the two programs. Ute Tribe Head Start children ride buses to the main Head Start office building, some traveling an hour or more to reach the building. Due to the long distances these children travel, all the services they need are provided in one day. Additional services include lead testing, vision screenings, height and weight measurements provided by the Uintah Basin LPN nursing students. Migrant Head Start children also receive these services, but it is done on a day before the clinical day with the PA school and DHHS oral health team. Despite slight differences in the delivery model, every child served by the Migrant Head Start and Ute Tribe Head Start programs has the opportunity to receive all available services with their parents’ permission.
At all clinical locations, any issues or concerns found during the medical screenings or dental assessments are documented in the child’s chart and a debriefing occurs with the Head Start staff, family advocates, and case managers after the screenings are completed. Appropriate referrals for follow-up care are made for each child through a partnership with local safety net clinics, primarily Community Health Center Inc., Brigham City Medical & Dental Clinic for Migrant Head Start and Fort Duchesne Indian Health Center for the Ute Tribe Head Start.
Migrant Head Start events typically occur in June and July, while Ute Tribe Head Start events occur in September and October.
June 6 – July 18, 2025, Migrant Head Start medical and dental screening results:
400 children received a medical screening. The most common medical needs found were abnormal growth chart curves, elevated lead levels, and anemia.
- 54 children found to have a medical need.
- No urgent referrals were made.
Dental needs:
400 children received an oral health risk assessment. Students with parental permission also received a fluoride varnish application.
- 400 students received a visual dental check from a U of U physician assistant student.
- 59 of the 400 children had identified areas of concern
- 12 children received a high-priority needs referral, and 1 child received an urgent referral to a dentist due to pain or infection.
- Urgent referrals are when a person needs to see a dentist in 2 days or less.
“Our partnership with the University of Utah Physician Assistant School has been a tremendous benefit to the children and families we serve in Centro de la Familia’s Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) program. Many of our families face barriers to accessing consistent medical or dental care, and these exams ensure that children receive the critical health screenings they need for a strong start. Through this collaboration, families can identify medical and dental concerns at an early stage, preventing them from becoming more serious or urgent. By working together, we can promptly identify concerns and create follow-up plans that support families in keeping their children healthy and ready to learn. We are deeply grateful for the dedication of the University’s PA students, faculty, and our own staff who work together to make this possible. Their commitment helps address the unique risks faced by families and ensures healthier outcomes for our children.”
Danny Reyes Health & Nutrition Manager, Centro de la Familia
Future Plans
This unique care delivery module will continue in both the Migrant Head Start and in the Ute Tribe Head Start programs. Partners will include the University of Utah Physician Assistant Program, Brigham Community Health Center, Fort Duchesne Indian Health Center, Uintah Basin Technical College Licensed Practical Nursing Program and DHHS Oral Health Program.
Help finding a dentistIf you need help finding a dentist, visit the Utah Oral Health Program website by going to https://ruralhealth.utah.gov/find-a-dentist-new/ or visit the Utah Medicaid website by going to https://medicaid.utah.gov/dental-coverage-and-plans/