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State Rep. Nickol
(R-Adams/York) talks with Dr. Tan and Jennifer
Englerth, executive director of Family First
Health, during his tour of the Hanover Center on
August 6, 2007. On August 6, 2007 Representative Nickol (R-Adams/York) toured Family First Health's Hanover Center medical suite that was visited nearly 12,000 times in 2006 by residents of Hanover, Gettysburg and surrounding areas. During the tour, Nickol viewed the progress of the new dental facility that will be launched at the Hanover Center in Fall 2007. "I'm most excited about the expansion," Nickol said. "From the many calls into my office, the hardest medical assistance to get is dental care." With the opening of the Hanover Center dental suite in Fall of 2007, Family First Health will serve nearly 4,500 patients in their first full year of operation easing the dental crisis that exists in Hanover. On August 7, 2007 Family First Health together with the Healthy York County Coalition saw nearly 100 people representing a variety of different health and social service organizations at a lunch and learn session held to discuss York County's Oral Health Delivery System. "Thank you for joining us at our third annual lunch and learn," said Jenny Englerth, Executive Director of Family First Health. "Thank you for coming to share your passion and helping us address this issue of improving oral health in York County." Nearly 100 community leaders
and representatives from over 20 different
organizations gathered at Family First Health in
York for a discussion on Oral Health. The discussion focused on current oral health services provided in York and Adams counties, pending fluoride legislation, the importance of prevention efforts, plans to increase access to affordable dental care within the community and information on what the community can do to support local efforts. Estelle Richman, Secretary of the Department of Public Welfare, opened the discussion by encouraging everyone to promote good oral health. Secretary Richman's career spans more than 25 years of public service. Appointed to her current position as Pennsylvania Secretary of Public Welfare by Governor Rendell in 2003, Secretary Richman stated that the solution to this dental crisis can only be achieved by working together and creating partnerships. "Low income individuals living in York face the same challenges as all of those in Pennsylvania: finding ways to afford quality dental care," Secretary Richman said. "Partnerships and community health centers like Family First Health provide primary and preventative affordable care for families with little or no coverage...offering families a start to a healthier life." Robin Rohrbaugh has been Executive Director of the Healthy York County Coalition since December of 2004. Rohrbaugh opened her discussion with statistics, stating that in York County families who make less than $25,000 annually are more likely to have not visited a dentist or have their teeth cleaned in the past year. Further, while there has been an overall increase in tooth removal due to decay, tooth removal is four times more likely to occur in low income families. "The Oral Health Task Force has done a great deal in making access to dental care more available, however there is still a long way to go...we will continue to improve access and educate York residents on comprehensive prevention efforts," Rohrbaugh said. Lunch and Learn
speakers prepare to make their remarks on York
County's Oral Health Delivery System. Dr. Bush emphasized the importance of early childhood dental examinations, the decreasing number of dentists practicing in Pennsylvania and the need for statewide fluoridated water. "Nearly 50 percent, or 325, of the four-year-olds in the county's Head Start program don't have cavities. But 35 to 40 percent have one to four cavities; 12 percent have five to nine cavities; and two to three percent of the children have more than 10 cavities with extreme tooth decay...I've seen as many as 17 of their 20 teeth with decay," Bush said. "Each year in Pennsylvania we lose 2,000 dentists, the only solution is prevention," he concluded. Representative Eugene DePasquale (R-95) has served as Director of Economic Development for the City of York, as well as Deputy Secretary for the State Department of Environmental Protection under Governor Ed Rendell. During his remarks, he focused on the importance of the passage of a House bill that would make fluoridated water mandatory in Pennsylvania. DePasquale looked only at children in WIC programs. Some 0.38 percent of the children in the program in Allegheny and 0.74 percent of children on WIC in Philadelphia reported dental problems, two cities where fluoridated water is mandatory, compared to 5.45 percent of York County children who have reported dental problems, where fluoride is not mandatory. "Every child should have fluoride in their water to help their dental health...when it comes to the health of our children, mandatory fluoride is a critical component," DePasquale said. "There should be a bipartisan consensus to move forward on this bill, all children should have the same access to healthier teeth no matter where they live." Senator Michael Waugh (R-28) was first elected to serve as Senator for the citizens of York County in the 28th Senatorial District in November of 1998 and served as a State Representative for six years prior to becoming Senator. During his remarks, Waugh focused on the role of policy makers to give assistance to the community's efforts in educating the general public. "Access to dental care for the underserved and uninsured is one of the most critical components to solving this dental crisis," Waugh said. "But when it comes to access, policy makers need to understand that there is more than providing a facility and a dentist, we must consistently continue to eliminate hurdles." Following the lunch and learn session, a legislative tour and reception was held at Family First Health's George Street Center where Senator Waugh and Representative DePasquale were available for questions and were invited to tour the facility. About National Health Center Week About Family First Health (Click Here for More Photos from the Lunch and Learn Sessions) |
