Needs Assessment 

A. General Data 
1. The Children’s Center, Inc (TCCI) has been operating for nearly 145 years and the TCCI has
served as a safe place for the youth and families. The center began as an orphanage and transitioned
into a human rights and social justice organization. Their locations span from the Texas Gulf Coast
from Louisiana to Mexico and provide prevention and intervention services through outreach. The
agency consists of a director, president, vice president, case managers, community planners, and
employees within the facility. The agency’s mission is to change and save the lives of children,
youth, families who are abandoned, abused, neglected, and exploited through rescue, nurture,
empowerment, and equality continuum of caring that facilitates satisfying living opportunities. The
program's funding comes from Membership, fundraisers and charities such as The United Way,
selling artesian coffee, and donations fund the Children’s Center With multiple locations, in
Beaumont, Houston, Galveston, Honduras, and Mexico they are able to serve a wide variety of
families and children in need. (1)
 
2. Target Group 
On average each location has 4 full time staff members and a varying number of volunteers each
month ranging from 5 – 11. They see to the immediate safety and emergency medical needs of the
individuals, located a host home to provide emergency shelter to those in need. Also provide
educational services such as continued education in way of tutoring, psychoeducational groups, and
community education. In addition, they provide childcare services, transportation, housing and
food. There are no current educational minimum requirements for the volunteers, or the location
staff employed in positions of management. While board members typically have higher education.
Staff and clinical interns on assignment to the organization are from graduate programs. (1)

3. Description of services provided 

The fulltime staff location manager coordinates the activates of their shelter and clients and the
families and children seeking assistance. They do not have any set schedules – all services are
provided on case-by-case basis and individual need. One of their goals is to expand assistance to
the children and families at the border. The daily routine is also provided on a case-by-case
basis. In order to screen a possible client each individual has their basic medical needs assessed and
treated if needed, emergency food and shelter is provided, counseling services are provided if
needed, no basic dental needs are screened for or met, only emergency dental needs are met.  A 24-
hour crisis line is available to call to reach a crisis response team. (2)

B. Information Related to Dental Health 

They are provided with toothbrushes and toothpaste. But there are no preventative measures taken
only for treatment of dental emergencies. There is limited supplies and there is no way to assess the
staff’s dental knowledge. There has never been a dental program established.  All locations are in
desperate need of oral health program implementation (2)

C. Dental Health Status 

1. dental caries – untreated statistics 

2015– 2017–
Characteristic  
2016   2018  
Ages 5–17          
Total   13.9   11.9  
Poverty status      
Below 100% poverty   19.9   18.9  
100%–199% poverty   17.7   16.0  
200% poverty and
9.8   7.3 
above  
 
Direct correlation of poverty level and caries incidences. Higher caries rate in those the lower in poverty
level. (1)
 
Page Break 
D. Periodontal Disease 

  20-64 years 65 years of

of age age and older

 
Characteristics Pocket depth Pocket depth
in in
mma mm
   
Race/ethnicity    
 Non-Hispanic white 0.96 (0.02) 1.04 (0.03)
 Non-Hispanic Black 1.19 (0.03) 1.27 (0.07)
 Mexican American 1.16 (0.04) 1.17 (0.06)
Education (years)    
 < 12 1.25 (0.03) 1.23 (0.04)
 12 1.04 (0.03) 0.98 (0.04)
 >12 0.95 (0.03) 1.06 (0.03)
Poverty Statusc    
 < 100% 1.16 (0.03) 1.27 (0.06)
 100%-199% 1.14 (0.03) 1.10 (0.04)
 ≥ 200% 0.96 (0.02) 1.03 (0.03)

Pocket depths are higher in older patients and people of color. (1)

E. Oral Health 

Characteristic   2015   2016   2017   2018   2019 

Ages 2–4                      
Total   63.2   63.9   65.7   65.0   67.7  
Poverty statusb                      
Below 100% poverty   67.7   62.9   65.5   71.6   70.3  
100%–199% poverty   59.2   66.2   61.8   63.0   66.0  
200% poverty and above   62.9   63.3   67.2   63.5   67.5  
Type of insurance   
c
                   
Private insuranced   61.2   62.1   66.2   64.0   66.2  
Public insurance   67.5   69.2   66.6   68.9   71.6  
No insurance   ‡   37.8   ‡   ‡   ‡ 
Oral health awareness increases with insurance coverage, as well as their participation in dental care. (1)

Goal Statements:
To provide knowledge and skills in improving oral health for the staff and residents of The Children’s
Center INC. 

Objective Statement 
To increase the dental health knowledge and access of the volunteers and staff by 50%. 
Design a fluoride rinse program for the volunteers to administer without our supervision. 
Demonstrate and educate volunteers on how to assess the basic needs of the clients. 
 F. Rationale: 
Based on the dental health status, the prevalence of oral health awareness has increased in
communities with insurance coverage as well as their participation in dental care. However, the
residents at The Children Center fall below the poverty line and are unable to receive dental
insurance, there are extreme differences by income, education and resources, with those in
poverty twice as likely as those with insurance. In 2016, only 37% of the population with no
insurance had oral health awareness. There was also an increase in dental caries in people who
fell below the poverty line. (1)
Due to the lack of education and resources for basic dental needs the volunteers have, results in
residents not obtaining the dental knowledge to provide oral care. (1) Volunteers and staff’s
education in dental health is unsatisfactory (3). Studies show that oral health is a low priority.
Their primary focus is to provide a safe haven for youth and families (1). There was no specific
routine for assisting oral health care (3). The main responsibility depends on each individual.
According to the administrator of The Children’s Center, Inc., residents are provided with
toothbrushes and toothpaste but there are no preventative measures taken only for treatment of
dental emergencies (3). Limited income and lack of oral health programs are only two of the
barriers residents faced needing dental care (8). Other barriers include not understanding or
seeing the need for regular dental care.
Providing volunteers and staff with education on oral health will have positive impact on
awareness and betterment of their home-bound patients. (2)

Program Design: 
 
A. Activities 
The purpose of our oral health program is to increase the awareness of volunteers and administrators with
regard to their patient’s oral health. The discussions will include teaching basic dental health, oral hygiene
practices, and fluoride rinse administration. The sessions will be performed once a year at The Children’s
Center facility. The sessions will be presented in the following: 

1. Session 1 (week 1)
A. Volunteers and Administrators 
Presentation of overall oral health related to oral health in the new clients. 
1. Administer a pretest regarding general oral health knowledge to the volunteers and
administrators (3)
2. Present the PowerPoint presentation on how oral health is important and the basics on brushing and
flossing 
3. Have the administrators practice administering a pretest like they would to a new incoming client. 
4. Have the volunteers and administrators practice brushing and flossing 
5. Administer a posttest to the volunteers and the administrators regarding their general oral health
knowledge (3)

This session will require an hour and will need the volunteers, administrators, and the dental hygiene
students.
 
2. Sessions 2 (week 2)
A. Greater Houston Dental Association 
Presentation on the prevalence of lack of dental care in the homeless and poverty level members of
their community and the need for funding for the development of a fluoride rinse program. 
1. Presentation on the prevalence of poverty in their community 
2. Presentation on the importance of funding and the lack financing for the fluoride rinse program. 
3. Provide a sign-up sheet for volunteers to donate to the program 
4. Sign-up sheet for volunteer dentist participation at The Children’s Center
This session will require an hour and will need the dental hygiene students, the administrators and the
Dental Association members.

 
3. Session 3 (week 3)
4. Volunteers and administration 
Presentation on the importance of a fluoride rinse and how it lowers the caries risk. 
1. Administer a pretest for the volunteers and administrators on fluoride and how it lowers the caries
risk (America's Toothfairy, n.d.)
2. Presentation on fluoride rinse program works and how they will implement this with new clients. 
3. Have volunteers practice administering a posttest they will give new clients 
4. Have volunteers and administrators practice administering the fluoride rinse on each other. 
5. Administer a posttest to test the knowledge of the fluoride rinse program. 

This session will require an hour and will need the volunteers, administrators, and the dental hygiene
students.

 
B. Constraints and Alternative Strategies 
Constrain#1
1. Location large enough to accommodate hygiene students and volunteer participants. 
Alternative:
1. provide an online webinar to cover the pre and posttest, as well as the presentation.
2. Provide a written presentation and testing materials by mail to the center for self-education.
3. provide a self-paced presentation on an online website 

Constraint #2
1. Securing funding for the fluoride rinse, toothbrushes, and dental personnel to attend the education
sessions. 
Alternative:
1. Contact a new vendor asking for funding and donations.
2. Ask another dental association for funds.
3. Further presentations explaining the dire need for donations. 

Constraint #3
1. No dental student participants to educate the volunteers 
Alternative:
1. Have local dental hygienists go to the center to educate the volunteers.
3. Offer an online education website for the volunteers to complete.
4. Provide the center with educational pamphlets. 
 
C. Resources 
The following resources will be required for implementation of the program: 
1. Personnel: 
2. The volunteers and administrators of The Children’s Center, the dental hygiene students from LIT
(for 1st and 3rd session), members of the Greater Houston Dental Association (2 nd session only) 
3. Visual Aids: 
a. PowerPoint of healthy and unhealthy oral cavity. b. Flip chart to demonstrate proper
brushing and flossing. c. Typodont and toothbrush provided by the clinicians 
4. Supplies: 
a. Toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss (10 kits).  b. Cups, disclosing solution, fluoride rinse,
gloves, cotton swabs, paper napkins, – provided by LIT Dental Hygiene Clinic and
Colgate. 
5. Evaluation Material: 
 a. Pretest-one form b. Post-test – same form for general oral health, and a pretest-one form
and post-test – same form for fluoride rinse  
6. Supplements:  pretest and posttest for the new clients at the center. 

D. Budget
The estimated cost for the dental health program is as follows:
1. Toothbrush kits $ 75.00
2. Plastic cups $ 5.00
3. Gloves $ 45.00
4. Fluoride rinse provided by Crest/Colgate
5. Flipchart – provided by LIT Dental Hygiene Students
6. Floss - $ 20.00
7. Gauze, cotton swabs, tongue depressors, napkins, and disclosing solution (donated by LIT Dental
Hygiene Clinic).
8. Typodonts – provided by Greater Dental Association of Houston

E. Timetable:
All the needed resources will be obtained before each session. There will be three sessions spanning at 3-
week period of the time.
The schedule is as follows:
Session 1: week of April 11, 2022
Session 2: week of April 18, 2022
Session 3: week of April 25, 2022

F. Evaluation:
A. Process evaluation (formative):
1. A monthly zoom meeting with the manager will be done to evaluate the progress of the oral health
program.
2. A monthly review of the oral health knowledge to assure client education is effective.
3. A yearly review of oral health knowledge, plaque, brushing, flossing, and application of fluoride rinse to
assure mastery of the skill.
4. A yearly in-person review of the oral health knowledge, plaque, brushing, flossing, and application of
fluoride rinse to assure mastery of the skill.

B. Skills Evaluation (summative):

1. A pre-test and post-test will be administered to the volunteers and administrators to assess and
compare their level of knowledge in oral health knowledge.
2. A signup sheet will be given to the Dental Association to assess their willingness to donate supplies or
volunteer time to the oral health program.
3. An annual check with the administrator will be conducted to verify volunteers and administrators are
implementing the oral health routine plan.
4. Provide a written instructional manual to the administrators and volunteers about the oral health
program.
5. An annual check with administrators will be conducted to verify the utilization of fluoride rinse, patient
education on brushing, flossing, and plaque during patient assessment.
 
Citations:

#‌ 1 - Borrell, L. N., & Crawford, N. D. (2012). Socioeconomic position indicators and periodontitis:
examining the evidence. Periodontology 2000, 58(1), 69–83.

# 2 - “About TCCI.” The Children’s Center, Inc., 2021, thechildrenscenterinc.org/about/. Accessed 22 Mar.

2022. 
# 3 - America’s ToothFairy. (2022). Retrieved 5 April 2022, from https://www.americastoothfairy.org/ 

# 4 - (Harrell, Lisa). (8 February 2022). Telephone Interview

Appendix
Pretests and Posttests
Signup sheets for the donors
Education handouts from American Toothfairy on plaque, brushing, flossing, healthy eating, coloring
pages for younger kids, take home education information for parents (in English and Spanish)
 
Greater Houston Dental Society Volunteer Sign Up Sheet 
 
 
Name  Email Address  Phone Number  Preferred Signature 
Participating Role
Donation or
Services 
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Pre and Post Test of Basic Dental Knowledge 
 
1. How often should you get a dental cleaning? 
A. once a year B. twice a year C. 4 times per year 
2.    How often should I brush my teeth? 
        A.    Once a day   B. Twice a day   C. After every meal 
 3. Oral health is an essential component of health throughout life 
        A.  True   B. False 
 4. Flossing is just as important as brushing your teeth 
        A. True    B. False 
 5. What should you do if your gums bleed while flossing? 
       A. Stop flossing immediately B. Continue flossing gently 
6. Brushing too hard can damage your tooth enamel 
        A. True    B. False 
 7. Smoking can lead to oral cancer 
        A. True    B. False 
   8. How long should you brush your teeth? 
       A. 1 minute B. 2 minutes  C. 3 minutes 
9. How often should you change your toothbrush? 
       A. Monthly   B. Every other month C. Every 6 months D. once per year 
10. Only sugary foods cause cavities 
       A. True   B. False 
 
 
 
 
 Color the Tooth Fairy. On the back of this paper, write a letter to the Tooth Fairy.
Tell her what you have learned about taking care of your teeth.
Can you find all the oral health words listed below? (Search horizontally,
vertically, diagonally and backwards.)