Kohl’s Dental Outreach Program

Kohl’s Department Stores Dental Outreach Program

The Kohl’s Department Stores Dental Outreach Program with Children’s Hospital brings a 30-minute dental education presentation to children in kindergarten and first grade. The program was designed by Children’s Hospital and the Virginia Department of Health–Dental Division to meet the Standards of Learning (SOL) health requirement.

After beginning in 2007, the program expanded in 2009 to increase its reach to more than 9,000 students in Richmond and the surrounding counties thanks to a donation of $88,662 from Kohl’s Department Stores.

“We are so grateful for the partnership we’ve had with Kohl’s since 2001,” said Stephanie Allan, Special Events Coordinator at Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Kohl’s has donated more than $685,000 to Children’s Hospital Foundation since our partnership began, allowing us to provide health and safety information to children in Central Virginia.”

2009/2010 School Year Report

During the 2009/2010 school year, classroom instruction was provided by Children’s Hospital staff at 27 schools to 117 first grade classes and 118 kindergarten classes, for a grand total of 4,325 children.

In addition to direct classroom instruction, this year’s Dental Outreach Program included providing supplies to school nurses at other elementary schools so that they could make the presentation themselves. Supplies—including instructional materials and a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss for each child—were provided to 55 schools, and the presentation was made by school nurses to an additional 5,167 children in first grade classes.

By the end of this school year, the Dental Outreach Program had provided supplies and instruction to 9,492 children at 82 schools. This total represents a more than 500% increase from the number of children who received instruction through the program during the 2008/2009 school year.

“Children’s Hospital’s mission is to be a resource and provider of specialized health service,” commented Cyndi Cline, Hospital Liaison and Dental Outreach instructor. “This is what we’re doing by helping to ensure that kids understand the importance of good dental health.”

To download a poster that features helpful dental health tips, please click here.

To learn more about Children’s Hospital’s pediatric Dental Program, click here.

The information on this site is provided for informational and educational purposes only; it does not contain specific medical advice. If you have specific health questions or problems, consult a health care professional for personal medical advice.