
Preschoolers at the Essic Robinson Head Start center in Alton learned how to brush teeth properly from Michelle Singley, Coordinator of Dental Hygiene at
Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey. Singley regularly visits preschoolers enrolled in Head Start, a free preschool for qualifying families, to educate children on oral healthcare and prevent cavities.
Head Start is a national program for children ages three to five that provides health and parent involvement services in addition to an acclaimed early childhood education curriculum. Administered locally by
Riverbend Head Start & Family Services, it enrolls nearly 730 preschoolers living at or below the federal poverty level.
The
American Dental Association reports that low income is the single best predictor of high tooth decay in children, making oral healthcare education a priority for Riverbend Head Start & Family Services and Lewis and Clark Community College.