• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • Events
  • Join Our Team
  • In the News
  • Blog
  • William Penn Campaign
Donate Patient Portal
Family First Health

Family First Health

A community health care center

  • Schedule Appointment
  • Services
    • Medical Services
      • Integrated Substance Use Services
      • Integrated Behavioral Health Services
      • Optometry
    • Dental Services
      • Mobile School Dentist Program
    • Podiatry
    • Community Health Programs
      • Caring Together
      • Nurse-Family Partnership
      • Connections For a Healthy Pregnancy
    • COVID-19 Information
  • Providers
  • Patient Info
    • Patient Info & Forms
    • Insurance & Sliding Fee
    • Patient Portal
    • Instructions for Medical Records Requests
  • Locations
    • Columbia Dental
    • Columbia Medical
    • George Street
    • Gettysburg
    • Hannah Penn
    • Hanover
    • Lebanon
    • Lewisberry
    • Springwood Road Dental
    • William Penn
  • Watch
    • Vaccine Stories
    • Community Health Briefings
    • Let’s Talk Health
  • About
    • Careers
      • FFH Community Scholars Program
    • Contact
    • Financials

York Dispatch: This is how Family First Health is removing the barrier to dental care in York’s school

Bright and early Thursday morning, as students filed into Hannah Penn K-8 for another day of learning, a small team transformed the school’s library into a mobile dentist clinic.

The initiative is part of Family First Health’s school dentist program, offering in-school dental care for all ages and grade levels. LaJuan Mountain, the vice president of dental services for Family First Health, said the clinic helps provide better accessibility to both students and parents who would otherwise be unable to visit the dentist.

“There was a barrier with parents not being able to get off work to get their kids into the office,” Mountain said. “So seeing them in a school setting prevents the parent from losing a day at work, and it prevents the child from missing a day at school.”

In addition to closing the divide for access, Family First Health is working to change the overall dental culture in the York community.

Oftentimes, Mountain said, individuals might only see a dentist when something is wrong. The same goes for kids, too, when it’s often too late.

These routine screenings provide essential care to ensuring a child’s teeth are healthy and strong, she added.

Family First Health’s dental unit partners with a number of schools in York, Adams and Lancaster counties. On Thursday at Hannah Penn, the team had 176 scheduled services with students.

Nicole Tome, the school-based health center manager at Family First Health’s Hannah Penn Center, said the program is a wonderful way to provide essential care while missing little class time.

“Attendance is a nationwide issue for schools — and it’s no different here in York,” Tome said. “But when we have students here, we want them to be in class and learning. So mobile school dentistry events really cut down significantly on the time that students are away from their seats.”

The entire process takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes and includes dental screenings, cleanings, X-rays and a fluoride rinse. Health professionals will then use the data collected during exams to determine how often they should return to school.

If a student requires additional care — filling cavities for instance — Family First Health will schedule those appointments, too.

The cost of care is covered by the parent’s insurance. In instances where a family might not have insurance, though, Family First Health will work to get them insured.

This could mean being covered by state-funded insurance, for example, Mountain said.

Though being called down to get dental care at school might be an embarrassing situation for children, Tome said the kids often come out of appointments feeling confident and empowered.

“I think they’re more proud of the moment and they feel good about themselves,” Tome said. “I think it’s helping to boost their self-esteem and they leave with smiles on their faces because they know that they now know a little bit more about how to take care of their bodies.”

You can learn more about Family First Health and its programs at www.familyfirsthealth.org.

Watch the video here.

Category iconIn the News

Join Our Family

Sign up for occasional emails tailored towards family and community well-being.

Sign Up

From Our Patients

  • This is the most friendly, caring, and compassionate doctors office I've ever been to. You are a person with concerns and issues and ailments to them and they do everything they can to help. Everything is explained so you completely understand what the next step is.
    Lewisberry Site Patient
    Heather | Lewisberry, PA
  • I love this place. My kids are addressed by their names, fast to get us in to be seen, its clean, very friendly. Always have a warm atmosphere. I LOVE IT HERE, first time I trust a practice with my babies!
    Columbia Site Patient
    Milagros | Columbia, PA
  • I've had some of the best experiences when using their dental services as well as the plethora of other services they provide. I really like the staff and they have all been super nice and friendly, I recommend that people take advantage of the services they provide!
    George Street Site Patient
    Dirk | York, PA
  • The receptionists are very pleasant. I would recommend this office to any of my friends who might need a doctor or dentist. The fact that they have someone who can help translate for my family has been such a convenience. I can't thank them enough.
    Gettysburg Site Patient
    Mrs. H | Gettysburg, PA

Footer

Contact

Contact Us

717-845-8617

Patient Portal

  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram

About

  • About Us
  • Locations
  • Our Providers
  • News

Patients

  • Medical Services
  • Dental Services
  • Services
  • Patient Portal
  • Insurance & Sliding Fee

Careers

  • Careers
  • Job Listings
  • Staff Login

All Content © 2023 Family First Health
Legal Disclaimer • Privacy Policy