Civic Engagement in Action : Dental Care for Underserved Children Crystal Bryant, Jon Dunn, Heather Gagliano, Diane Kenski, Amber Lords, Thomas Marley, Jason Oakes, De Edra Price, Tracey Price, Kim Thomas, Karin Waltz Service Activities: A community assessment was preformed on underserved children under the age of 3. We visited 4 dentists in Boise and conducted a field assessment. A phone survey was conducted with 50 dentists in the Central District Health Department area (District 4). The information from the phone survey was used to create a usable data base and a map of dentists who would serve the population. Nursing Framework: The theoretical framework used to conduct the community assessment is referred to as Community-as-Partner. This framework analyzes the physical environment, education, safety & transportation, demographics, health & social services, politics & government, and economics of a population. Results: Thirty two dental offices accepted children under the age of three as patients. Eighteen of these 32 offices provide fluoride varnish services. Sixteen of the 18 offices accept Medicaid. Recommendations: Central District Health Department should follow up with those dentists who want to partner with them. The list of dentists needs to be made available to the public. This can be done by handing a list of dentists to parents, and showing parents where the dentists are located by using the created map. Further study is needed in the following areas: the usability of Medicaid, reasons why dentists do not follow the ADA guidelines for early dental intervention, and how to educate parents on the need for early dental intervention. Service Learning: Through the partnership of Central District Health Department and Boise State University Nursing Students, we were able to compile a list of dentists and a map so the agency can provide better oral care to underserved children. While completing the list we uncovered some disparities related to socioeconomic, educational and political inadequacies making access to care difficult. Class Name: NURS 417 Community & Public Health Lab, Spring 2010 Instructor: Kim Martz, MSN, RN Community Partner: Central District Health Department Community Partner’s Mission Statement: "To improve the health of our communities by identifying sustainable solutions to community health issues, developing partnerships for implementation of strategies, and demonstrating our success through measurement of outcomes." Service Project Purpose: We identified dentists in the Central District Health Department region who perform fluoride varnish on underserved children aged 3 and under. The information was formatted into a usable database, separated by zip code. A map, identifying locations of those dentists in District 4, was created. Learning goals: Apply basic concepts of population- focused practice to client situations, and perform targeted community assessments centered on an identified need of an agency working with a population. Implement short-term interventions and make recommendations for short and long-range goals and interventions for the agency/population. Reflection: Service learning benefited the group greatly. The dynamics of working in a large group better enabled us to overcome barriers associated with group process. We have learned to be more compassionate towards people who are struggling with issues of poverty, and saw our efforts valuable to the community. We found that we share many similarities with the population, including working hard and needing care. Finding access to and utilizing the dental services is difficult when one is busy and has multiple commitments. Education can impact access to health care. Children need an advocate and we, as nurses, can advocate for them.