4-H Health Officers: Smiles for a Lifetime

1. 4-H Health Officers:Smiles for a Lifetime Helping each 4-H’er take a stand for “healthier living”

2. Missing Something in Your Extension Health Programs?

3. Components: • 4-H Health Officer • Training – Officers, Volunteers, Agents • Curriculum - 4-H Club Health Activity Guide - 4-H Club Dental Health Planner - County Officer Training Outline • Club Activities

4. Goal To increase knowledge about dental health and motivate 4-H’ers and families to try new dental health habits and to improve others.

5. Improving Everyday Dental Behaviors • Brush and floss teeth more often and thoroughly • Choose healthy snacks (fruits and veggies) • Replace sugar-added drinks with water and low-fat milk • Commit to being tobacco-free • Wear protective gear • Use flouride mouth rinse

6. Curriculum 4-H Club Dental Health Planner Members track health behaviors 4-H Club Health Activity Guide Officers lead fun club activities

7. Implementation 4-H’ers lead fun activities 56 4-H Health Officers Training by local oral health educators

8. Evaluation Tools • Club Record Form - Documents activities conducted at club meetings - Youth input to improve program • Parent Survey - Observed at-home dental health behaviors - Assess child’s dental health - Perceptions of how child used the Planner

9. The 4-H Health Initiative  builds youth leadership  integrates dental health education into existing 4-H youth development program  designed to be low-cost, high- impact, and sustainable

10. Project Team • County Extension faculty, volunteers, youths • Elaine Bowen, Ed.D., Extension Specialist WVU Extension Service • Gina Sharps, R.D.H., Oral Health Educator WVU School of Dentistry • Richard Meckstroth, D.D.S., Professor WVU School of Dentistry