To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Health Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Nolan Sullivan, 707-565-4774
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Recommended Action:
Title
Adopt a Gold Resolution proclaiming February 2026 as Children’s Dental Health Month in Sonoma County
End
Executive Summary:
This item requests the adoption of a resolution proclaiming February 2026 as Children’s Dental Health Month in Sonoma County. Each February, the American Dental Association recognizes February as National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of dental health.
Discussion:
National Children’s Dental Health Month is observed each February as a month-long national health observance dedicated to promoting the benefits of good oral health to children, their caregivers, educators, and communities. Improving oral health improves overall health, wellbeing and quality of life of individuals and communities while reducing health care costs. Tooth decay remains the most common chronic yet preventable health condition among California’s children, and untreated dental disease can lead to pain, infection, missed school days, and diminished academic success.
The Sonoma County Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment collects data on children enrolled for the first time in kindergarten or transitional kindergarten in public schools, and the data show significant gaps in oral health among the County’s children. The 2024-2025 data show 19 percent of Sonoma County kindergarteners continued to experience untreated tooth decay (Sonoma Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment Data 2024-2025 aggregate data reported in System for California Oral Health Reporting Database). Overall, looking at children in Sonoma County, about 76% had a dental visit in the past 12 months (2019-2022 Source: California Health Interview Survey). Only half of Sonoma County children (1-18 years old) who are enrolled in Medi-Cal had at least one dental visit in the past 12 months (California Department of Healthcare Services, 2023). The American Dental Association recommends visiting the dentist twice per year for preventive care. These factors indicate a persistent need for prevention and access to care.
The Sonoma County Department of Health Services is implementing strategies outlined in the California Oral Health Plan by convening, coordinating, and collaborating with partners to advance oral health planning, disease prevention, surveillance, education, and community-to-clinical linkages for treatment. A specific focus has been to coordinate and build relationships between schools and healthcare agencies, initiating new dental screening and prevention service models across 31 Sonoma County TK-12 schools. Services include: dental screenings, bi-directional referrals to care, fluoride varnish application, and dental sealants. Over the 2024-2025 school year healthcare partners conducted a total of 3,835 dental screenings, 226 dental sealants, 35 referrals for untreated decay, and 28 fluoride varnish treatments.
The Sonoma County Dental Health Network (DHN) is a collaborative of agencies and individuals in Sonoma County interested in improving the oral health of residents in Sonoma County. The Sonoma County Dental Health Network works to improve the oral health of young children in Sonoma County, with a focus on reducing disparities and serving those most disproportionately affected by oral health inequities. The DHN current goals are to:
• Increase place-based dental services among Sonoma County children, focusing on priority school locations to reduce oral health disparities; and
• Improve Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment response rate.
Attitudes and habits established at an early age are critical in maintaining good oral health throughout life. By participating in the annual celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month, we can help keep children’s smiles beautiful now and for years to come. In observance of this national campaign to raise awareness about the importance of dental health, the Department requests the Board of Supervisors proclaim February 2026 as Children’s Dental Health Month in Sonoma County.
Prior Board Actions:
February 8, 2022 - recognized February as Children's Dental Health Month in Sonoma County
February 4, 2020 - recognized February as Children's Dental Health Month in Sonoma County
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
N/A
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None