Empowering youth with disabilities to advocate for their own health is powerful. Encouraging autonomy in hygiene routines, providing educational materials in accessible formats, and celebrating progress builds confidence that ripples into every aspect of life.
Families Together is the Kansas Parent Training Information Center and Family to Family Health Information Center. We serve families who have a son or daughter with special needs. As we support and serve families, we also know that youth with special needs are our next generation of voices for the future. Families Togethers CHASE program was developed to help guide this next generation’s dreams.
The CHASE Program supports Kansas youth and young adults with disabilities who are justice-involved in the foster care system or are in need of community connection. CHASE offers an 8-week personal growth and wellness program delivered through individual support for youth. Topics include positive self-talk, gratitude, values, and goal setting, among others. In addition to 1:1 support, CHASE hosts free prosocial events for youth, families, and professionals, highlighted by its annual CHASE Fest. The program aims to be a positive connection for youth by sharing tools to help them CHASE their dreams.
Through the CHASE program youth had the opportunity to fill out the “My Dental Care Passport” and give their thoughts about their dental care experience. Children and youth with developmental disabilities often face unique challenges when it comes to oral health. These can include physical limitations, sensory sensitivities, communication barriers, and behavioral concerns that make dental visits more complex—but not impossible.
When asked how important dental health was to them some answered, somewhat important and others mentioned it was not important at all. Most youth were somewhat comfortable going to the dentist. The youth often expressed a mix of concerns, frustrations, and hopes when it came to oral health. They expressed they wanted dentists who understand their disabilities and offer person-centered care, including flexible scheduling and sensory-friendly environments. Many emphasize the importance of being listened to and involved in decisions about their dental care.
The CHASE Program is currently partnering with Oral Health Kansas to promote oral health education, resources, and healthy habits among youth and families. Resources, such as Smile Kits, and oral health education are distributed and embedded into program content, and shared via newsletters, social media, and session activities to support preventive care and overall wellness. Youth and families may request a Smile Kit by completing the Smile Kit Request Form. They can also go to the Pathways to Oral Health website to access the Passport and other resources.
