USU students' service project takes fluoride to migrant families' kids

USU students' service project takes fluoride to migrant families' kids

From the The Hard News Cafe 4-21-04

Making a difference while gaining an education. This difference affected about one half of the students at Lincoln Elementary, in Hyrum. The education was gained by all.

Fourteen USU students from the department of Health Education spent time Friday assisting 250 children, kindergarten through fifth grade.

These children were given fluoride varnishes along with other oral health materials and educational pamphlets. Along with the oral health materials, donated by local dentists, bags of clothes were donated from Dillards to the migrant farm worker health in clinic in Brigham City. The donors were contacted by the students of Foundations of Community Health.

The project was studied and carried out by the HEP 4000 students; their instructor, Julie Gast, associate professor of health education; and by Mary Cannon, director of Utah Farm Worker Health.

In HEP 4000, Foundations of Community Health, students learn about types of communities and their health needs. As a result, the students were given the project to study the needs of migrant farm workers, particularly in Cache Valley.

"There are lots of Mexican immigrants in this area," Gast said.

"This has been a good project for the class," she said.

Gast contacted Cannon about services that the class could do in assisting the needs of the farm workers. Cannon told Gast of an ongoing grant through the Bureau of Primary Health Services for Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers.

"This grant has been ongoing for 20 years," said Cannon. "With the money we can do a service every year," said Cannon.

The funds target migrant education schools and Title One Schools, and were used in this case to buy fluoride varnishes for the children.

"The fluoride specifically targeted the low-income families," said Cannon.

One of the major migrant health issues is poor oral health, especially among children, according to information given.

"I have learned that oral health is a big issue, and that kids need to start young," said Nicole Ashment, a senior in Community Health education and a student in HEP 4000. "(Starting early) is necessary for good oral health," she said.

Fluoride varnishes are used as a safe and effective way to prevent caries.

The teeth are dried with gauze or a cotton roll and then the varnish is applied.

The patient is then advised not to eat or drink anything for 45 minutes to two hours after the treatment.

"This fluoride acts as a cavity shield for up to six months," said Gast.

Students at Lincoln Elementary were given a permission slip to be signed by their parent or guardian to allow this service to be provided by their child. Curt Hanks, Principal of Lincoln Elementary school felt that this was definitely beneficial to the elementary children.

"Anything that we can do to help the children is worthwhile," he said.

Many of the children in this school have a lower socioeconomic status, Hanks said.

"We are happy to do this; it is a good opportunity to provide another service for these students," he said.

Hanks also wanted to extend a thank you to the students of Utah State University.

"It is fantastic that the students would come and volunteer," he said.

"We feel a lot of support from the university, and we thank you," he said.

--Originally written for the Utah Statesman.

Writer: Sylinda Lee, Syllee@cc.usu.edu