California legislation (California Education Code Section 49452.8) requires that a Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment (KOHA) be completed for all children entering public school for the first time (at kindergarten or first grade). The forms should be completed and submitted to the child’s school at the beginning of the school year.
Dental providers play an important role in helping families complete the form and
increasing KOHA screening rates for San Mateo County children. Please complete the KOHA screening for all children entering public school for the first time (at kindergarten or first grade). Just:
-
Print out copies so you have them ready for dental visits with pediatric patients who are entering kindergarten or first grade.
-
Have the patient’s parent or guardian fill out the first page of the form. Then you as the Dental Provider fill out page 2.
-
The family should be instructed to submit the completed form to the child’s school. This should be done immediately after the visit and no later than by the end of the school year.
Learn more about the KOHA from the California Dental Association (CDA). If you have questions about the KOHA that the website doesn’t answer, email smcoralhealth@smcgov.org.