Parent and Caregiver Questions: Keeping Kids Safe at School. In-school learning is back in session and now more than ever parents are faced with a myriad of questions and concerns affecting their children and family. As a trusted source in the community, you may find yourself in a position to give parents high value one-on-one guidance. To help parents in your patient-community, visit this great resource from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that provides succinct and tailored information for parents who may have questions about school during COVID-19. The site offers questions parents can ask their school about how they are prioritizing safety and wellbeing of the students during COVID-19, common parent FAQ’s about the COVID-19 considerations in the school setting, including information on sports and activities, mealtime protocols, special accommodations and more. Be prepared and learn the answers to some of parents’ biggest questions about school during COVID-19 with this go-to resource. Click here to visit Parents and Caregivers – What Is Your School Doing to Protect Your Child from COVID-19? For a more detailed look into prevention strategies in schools, visit Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools, here.

COVID-19 UPDATE. Schools will be resuming in-person learning this fall, the timing of which may coincide with the current rise of infection rates in some parts of the country. Patients younger than 12 years old in school will experience varying degrees of exposure to SARS-CoV-2, depending on local cases, policies and vaccine eligibility. Pediatric dentists should continue to be aware of and adhere to the evolving screening, testing, masking and vaccine recommendations from governmental and professional organizations. Check out these resources for the latest trends and guidance - and come back frequently for ongoing updates!

COVID-19 Data Tracker
Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination
COVID-19 Guidance for Safe Schools
Guidance for Dental Settings

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). “The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented health, social and economic challenges for all Ohioans. These challenges are far-reaching, including loss of loved ones, unemployment, business closures, disruption to K-12 education and increased stress and social isolation. The full extent of the impacts of the pandemic on children and youth will take years to discern. However, early indicators of childhood adversity signal that the pandemic will have substantial impacts on Ohio’s health, well-being and economic vitality for years to come.

This fact sheet from the Health Policy Institute of Ohio highlights the impact that COVID-19 is having on the pediatric population’s exposure to adverse childhood events (ACEs).”

Key findings in this fact sheet include:

  • Exposure to specific ACEs may increase as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The pandemic has increased exposure to risk factors for ACEs. 
  • Existing disparities in ACEs exposure are likely to be exacerbated by the pandemic.

Click here to learn more. (March 25, 2021)

One Year Later, How Does COVID-19 Affect Children? Drawing on data and experiences from the year-long COVID-19 pandemic, the authors of this JAMA Pediatrics’ article discuss what we know about children who contract SARS-CoV-2 and what works best to protect them. Click here to read more. (January 4, 2021)

Considerations for School Sealant Programs During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic. This webpage outlines processes for resuming school sealant program (SSP) operation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read How to Decide Whether to Restart SSPs and How to Plan for Restarting SSPs (December 1, 2020)