Understanding Head Start Oral Health Program Information Report Data

Understanding Head Start Oral Health Program Information Report Data

What is the Program Information Report (PIR), and where can I find information about it?

•The PIR provides comprehensive data on Early Head Start and Head Start programservices. Topics covered in the PIR include health insurance coverage; immunizations;and health services, such as oral health services, forpregnant women and children,.All grantees and delegates are required to submit PIR data each year to the Office of Head Start (see

What are the PIR oral health performance indicators?

•C.17: Number of children with continuous, accessible dental care (“dental home”)provided by a dentist, at enrollment and at the end of enrollment year

•C.18: Number of children who received preventive care (e.g., cleanings, fluoride varnish applications, dental sealant application) since last year’s PIR

•C.19: Number of children, including those enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, who have completed a professional dental examination since last year’s PIR

C.19.a: Of these, number of children diagnosed as needing dental treatment
C.19.a.1: Of these, number of children who have received or are receiving dental treatment

C.19.b: Specify the primary reason that children who needed dental treatment did not receive it (e.g., no dental care available in local area, Medicaid not accepted by dentist, no transportation)

•C.20: Number of children(infant/toddlers) who are uptodate on a schedule of age-appropriate preventive and primary oral health care according to the relevant state’s EPSDT schedule

•C.21: Number of pregnant women who received a professional dental examination(s) and/or treatment since last year

What do the national PIR data in the following example tell us?

PIR Oral Health Performance Indicators / 2011–2012 / 2012–2013 / 2013–2014 / 2014–2015

Percentage of children with a dental home

/ 91% / 90% / 91% / 91%

Percentage of children who received a dental examination

/ 87% / 86% / 85% / 83%

Percentage of children needing dental treatment

/ 20% / 20% / 19% / 18%

Percentage of children that have received/are receiving dental treatment

/ 81% / 80% / 75% / 73%

Percentage of children that have received preventive care

/ 85% / 85% / 85% / 83%

Percentage of infants/toddlers up to date on preventive and primary oral health care according to EPSDT schedule

/ 79% / 77% / 78% / 74%

Percentage of pregnant women with dental examinations and/or treatment

/ 40% / 40% / 39% / 35%

•A high percentage of childrenhave a dental home and receive dental examinations, dental treatment, and preventive care.

•A low percentage of pregnant women receive a dental examination and/or treatment.

Are there important issuesthat the PIR data do notreveal?

•Among children who need dental treatment, PIR data do not show the urgency of the need for treatment or,among those who receive treatment, whethertreatment was completed.

How can PIR data be used to identify issues to address and to stimulate discussion about possible solutions?

•PIR data can help identify programs with challenges(e.g., reporting issues, issues withaccessing care for the pregnant women and children they serve). In addition, PIR data can identify challengesthat many Head Start programs share, which may lead to opportunities to address these challenges collectively.

Are there other topics to consider related to PIR data and oral health?

•Frequently, PIR data for “who have received or are receiving dental treatment” capture a myriad of grantee issues. For example, in thePIR optional comments section, the most commonly reported explanation for lack oftreatment is lack of parent follow-through, which alone does not adequately describe issues that need to be addressed.Therefore, when appropriate and possible, data should be explained, clarified, and elaborated upon.

Who can I contact for more information about the PIR and oral health?

•Contact:

•Head Start Enterprise System

E-mail:

Phone: (866) 771-4737

•National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness

E-mail:

Phone: (866) 763-6481

This handout was developed with funds from grant #90HC0013 for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start, Office of Child Care, and Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau by the National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness. This resource may be duplicated for noncommercial uses without permission.

This publication is in the public domain, and no copyright can be claimed by persons or organizations.