This document provides an overview of the Children's Oral Health Initiative (COHI) program in Saskatchewan. COHI is a Health Canada dental initiative that began in 2004 to improve oral health for First Nations and Inuit children aged 0-7. The goals are to prevent early childhood tooth decay, teach parents oral health habits, and introduce children to enjoyable dentistry. COHI services include screenings, fluoride varnishes, sealants, restorative treatments, and education. Dental therapists deliver services while COHI aides assist and link the program to communities. Reporting requirements ensure targets for enrollment, screenings, and education sessions are met to measure the program's success in improving children's oral health.

1. SASKATCHEWAN REGION
Prepared by: Mary-Lou Sanderson – COHI Coordinator
Oral Health Coalition Meeting
May 1, 2013

2. Children’s Oral
Health Initiative
(COHI) Program
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3. Outline of Presentation:
•What is the COHI Program?
•Goals of the COHI Program
•COHI Targets groups and why they were
chosen
•What are the COHI services?
•Roles of the dental therapist and Aide
•COHI Funding Work Plan
•COHI Deliverables
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4. The COHI program is a
population based, early oral
intervention program for
First Nations children (living
on reserve) and eligible
Inuit children
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5. What is the Children’s Oral
Health Initiative Program?
A dental program designed
to prevent and control early
childhood tooth decay
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6. Rationale: COHI was
developed to focus on the
understanding that tooth
decay is a transmissible
disease and fully
PREVENTABLE
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7. Goals of COHI Program
Improve oral health for children, and, in
doing so, improve their overall health
Teach parents and caregivers how to
prevent dental diseases for themselves and
their children
Prevent early childhood tooth decay and
avoid the need for unpleasant dental
treatment
Introduce babies and young children to
dentistry that is successful, painless and fun
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8.  A Health Canada dental initiative
that began in September 2004
 In 2004, COHI was introduced on
a limited basis. There were 5 FN
communities involved during
this first year
 COHI officially became a
program in May 2010
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9. SASKATCHEWAN REGION
NUMBER OF FIRST NATION COMMUNITIES: 40
Children
Eligible Population
AANDC Statistics
0 – 7 Years
5,236
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10. FNIHB – Health Canada
COHI – SK Region
Dr. Glenn Schnell, Assistant Regional
Dental Officer
Mary-Lou Sanderson, COHI Coordinator
Eight dental therapists, provide service
delivery to 40 communities
Part-time positions ranging from 13 – 28.5
hours per week
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12. COHI Target Groups
Children aged 0-7
Parents & caregivers of
children aged 0-7
Pregnant women
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13. Children aged 0-7 were chosen
because….
Decayed teeth are painful for children
and can result in a failure to thrive
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14. To address the alarming rate
of rampant tooth decay
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15. Too many children under the age of 6
require dental surgery under general
anaesthetic (GA)
Some children are receiving more than
one GA to treat dental disease
H e a lt h C a n a d a
F ir s t N a t io n s a n d I n u it H e a lt h B r a n c h
C r e d it : D r . T . K r a w a t
N a t io n a l P r e s e n t a t i o n 2 0 0 2
5
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16. Pregnant women, parents, and
caregivers were chosen because….
Tooth decay is caused by a bacterial
infection
When adults don’t care of their own
mouths, they can transmit the bacteria
which causes tooth decay to children
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17. Benefits of COHI
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18. What are the COHI Services?
Screenings (checking the teeth)
Fluoride Varnish Applications
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19.  Sealants
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20. Alternative Restorative Treatment (ART)
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21. One on one or small group oral health
sessions
Promotion of xylitol products
 Referrals as required
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22. Who provides COHI services?
COHI Dental Therapist – Health
Canada
COHI Aide – Community Member
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23. Role of the COHI Dental Therapist
Provides training, guidance and direction
to the COHI Aide
Completes screenings, sealants, and
temporary fillings (ART)
Provides education & information
regarding oral health
Referrals if necessary
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24.  Build capacity in the community by
linking with other programs to reach
target groups
 The dental therapist may have to
assume some of the COHI Aide’s
role when necessary
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25. Role of the COHI Aide
Provides the very important link between
the community and the dental therapist
Requires training as provided by Health
Canada
Works with the dental therapist when
preforming dental services (screenings,
ART & Sealant clinics)
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26.  Collects authorization forms
• No COHI services can be provided
without a signed authorization
• Child is in the program until no longer
eligible
• Regardless if there is a completed
authorization form a child’s medical
history must be updated each COHI year
• COHI Year – September 1 to August 31
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27.  Completes medical history
updates
 Application of the all the fluoride
varnishes on the children
 Provides oral health information
sessions (one-on-one)
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28. COHI Funding Work Plan
Funding is formula-based, utilizing
population numbers of children aged
birth to 7 years of age
This formula determines the number
of professional days for the dental
therapist and the COHI Aide
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29.  Funds for the Aide are transferred via
Health Funding Agreements to the
community
 37 COHI Aides - not full-time positions
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30. Reporting Requirements for the HFA
Submission of Dental Services Daily
Records (DSDR) at the end of each month
– COHI Aide
Completion of Community-Based
Reporting Template at the end of fiscal year
- Community
Completion of Financial Reporting on as
outlined in the HFA - Community
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31. COHI Deliverables
There are target objectives that have been
identified across Canada for the COHI
Program:
1.Enrol a minimum of 40% of the eligible
children aged 0-4 and 70% of the eligible
children aged 5-7
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32. 2. Complete dental screening for 90% of
all authorized children aged 0-7
(screening done each year)
3. Complete all required fluoride varnish
applications (2) for 70% of all authorized
children aged 0-7
4. A minimum of 40% of prenatal clients
participating in an oral health
information session
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33. How is success measured?
Partnerships are developed between
COHI staff and the community, i.e.
with nurses, school staff, day care
providers, health centre staff,
community programs….and
especially with the families
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34. COHI needs community support:
A key factor in the success of COHI
is the “community support”….the
dental therapist and the COHI Aide
need the support of the entire
community in delivering the
services and the message!!
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35. QUESTIONS?
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