MONADNOCK HEALTHY TEETH
What is Monadnock Healthy Teeth to Toes?
Monadnock Healthy Teeth to Toes (MHTTT) is a public health program for children and families at Monadnock Community Hospital. Originally called Monadnock Healthy Teeth, which began in 2003, the program offered access to dental care and instruction on dental hygiene.
In 2008, Monadnock Healthy Teeth to Toes was introduced to address the serious issue of childhood obesity by integrating healthy food choices and physical activity into the curriculum, along with dental care and instruction on dental hygiene.
Monadnock Healthy Teeth to Toes has partnered with many community organizations and health care professionals to ensure a comprehensive approach to wellness for children in the Monadnock Region.
What Services Does Monadnock Healthy Teeth to Toes Provide?
On an annual basis, approximately 2000 children, spanning grades K-3 in fourteen Monadnock area schools, are taught by our registered dental hygienist and registered dietitian. The Hospital is proud to report that tooth decay among this population has been reduced by over 44% since 2003.
Pamela Delahanty, MHTTT registered Dental Hygienist, visits 14 local elementary schools and provides children in grades K-3 with a variety of proactive dental hygiene services in the nurse’s office and in the classroom.
MHTTT is the only school based dental program in the state that coordinates and pays for the restorative care that is provided in dental offices. Without this aspect of the program, barriers such as money and initiative often prevent children from getting restorative care. If restorative issues are not addressed, the decay process worsens. The ultimate goal of the program is to get children to a point where they are pain and disease free, in a dental home, and visiting a dentist for regularly scheduled care.
Donna Poe, MHTTT, Registered Dietician, works in tandem with Pam to insure that children understand and recognize the importance of healthy eating and physical activity.
Four out of every ten children in the Monadnock Area, who participated in a survey conducted by Dartmouth Medical School and Monadnock Regional Pediatrics, are eating excessive amounts of foods high in calories and low in nutrients. The results concluded that one third of Monadnock Region children are considered obese as defined by government body mass index measurements. This percentage is alarmingly 10% higher than the average for the state of New Hampshire (20.15%).
Children Served
The program serves grades K-3 in the Hospital’s primary service area. This area includes the towns of Antrim, Bennington, Dublin, Francestown, Greenfield, Greenville, Hancock, Jaffrey, Mason, New Ipswich, Peterborough, Rindge, Sharon, and Temple.
Dental Coverage for Low Income Families
The Monadnock Region is designated as rural and economically diverse, with 27.2% of families living at or below the federal poverty level and 36.3% of the population are low to moderate wage earners. Children whose parents are living below the poverty level may be uninsured or underinsured, and therefore do not have access to medical care on a regular basis. The only medical practitioner these underserved children may see is the MHTTT dental hygienist and nutritionist.
Ramifications of Untreated Dental Disease
“Tooth decay and periodontal disease is attributed to long-term bacterial infection, which when left untreated, can contribute to a number of serious systemic diseases, including endocarditis, coronary artery disease, stroke, pre-term births, and developmental delays.” – Endowment for Health Issue brief published 12/27/02
Childhood Obesity - Pandemic of All Pandemics
Childhood obesity is considered the pandemic of all pandemics, medically, economically, and socially. It will likely be the number one health crisis we will face as a society in our lifetime.
Increasingly, the number of obese and overweight children seen by Monadnock Healthy Teeth to Toes health professionals has become alarming.
MHTTT Program Expansion
Since the program’s inception in 2003, MHTTT has provided education to over 14,000 children in the Monadnock Region. Monadnock Healthy Teeth to Toes has also brought services to a number of area preschools and Head Start programs.
Healthy ME Afterschool Club
Recognizing the need for an afterschool resource in the Monadnock Region which focuses on obesity prevention, MHTTT and its collaborative partners created the Healthy Me Afterschool Club, incorporating the core curriculum of CATCH, Healthy NH-5210, healthy snack preparation, fun physical activities, and family interaction.
The purpose of the Healthy Me Afterschool Club is to provide a developmentally appropriate, meaningful opportunity for second and third grade students to learn the importance of physical activity, nutrition and good health. The Program is a collaborative effort among MHTTT Staff, Parents, Teachers, School Nurses, and School Administrators.
Healthy Beginnings Prenatal Program (currently in planning stage)
Fundraising Plans
Monadnock Community Hospital Support
Monadnock Community Hospital has demonstrated a leadership commitment to the MHTTT program, already contributing nearly 80% of all necessary funding for the program. According to Peter Gosline, CEO, “We have seen the tremendous need for access to oral health care in our communities, we have seen children suffer with pain and decay, and we are deeply committed to the Monadnock Healthy Teeth program. We have seen the impact that the program has had, and we want to ensure the program will be here for years to come.” As with other community benefit programs offered at no cost, the continuation becomes reliant upon fundraising.
Building an Endowment
Monadnock Healthy Teeth to Toes is actively working to create an endowment fund that would ensure long-term sustainability for the program. The ultimate goal is to raise approximately $2 million for the fund, which will in turn generate between $100,000 and $150,000 of revenue each year for the program.
Individual Donors, Events, and Grants/Foundations
There are many individuals in the community who have supported Monadnock Healthy Teeth to Toes. They recognize the important work of the Program, and want to help further that mission. This includes a very generous donation form the three local Rotary clubs; Jaffrey-Rindge, Monadnock, and Peterborough, to purchase a vehicle for MHTTT that acts as a traveling dental office and transportation for children to dental appointments when necessary.
Monadnock Community Hospital also hosts a Golf Tournament every year, with the proceeds going directly to operational support for MHTTT.
We are actively seeking out and applying for grants when appropriate. The following are some of the organizations from which we have received funding:
- The Endowment for Health
- Oleonda Jameson Trust
- Northeast Delta Dental
- Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare
- The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
- TD Charitable Foundation.
Program staff
Louise Danforth, Program Coordinator
Louise works closely with Pam and Donna, acting as the program liaison with local schools, families, the community and state organizations, to coordinate and promote the services of MHTTT. As Program Coordinator, Louise also handles the grant writing, reporting and application process for MHTTT as well as all marketing and program development.
Pam oversees the daily operations of the dental program. She is responsible for, but not limited to; scheduling in the schools, meeting with school nurses, principals and teachers as necessary, developing the educational curriculum and materials, communication with families, organizing program volunteers, community outreach, maintaining statistical information, and maintaining files for all children served. Pam also handles the education, screening, cleaning, sealants, and referrals for children involved in the program.
Donna began her work with MHTTT in the fall of 2008 to address the issue of childhood obesity. Better known as the “Nutrition Detective”, she teaches children the importance of healthy eating, physical activity, and overall wellness through an interactive and insightful curriculum.
Community Resources
CONTACT MCH