Bay Area

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

“With the pandemic, many regular dental visits have fallen off parents’ calendars,” says Dr. Maggie Park, Public Health Officer for San Joaquin County Public Health Services. “Fortunately, most dental offices are back to pre-pandemic capacity, so parents should call their child’s dentist to schedule a check-up and ask about sealants.”

Published

4 years ago

February 10, 2022

Oakland Post

Graphic courtesy of San Joaquin County Public Health Services.

‘Sealants Make Sense’ for Kids 6-14 Years Old

By Cheryl Laughlin | From City of Stockton

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, bringing thousands of dedicated health care providers and educators together to spread the word on the importance of good oral health to children, their caregivers, and teachers.

Since 1941, Children’s Dental Health Month has grown from a single day to a whole month celebrating healthier smiles without tooth decay — the most common chronic health condition for children in the U.S., according to the American Dental Association (ADA).

This year’s focus on “Sealants Make Sense” offer parents an even easier way to protect their child’s smile.

Research on sealants shows an 80% reduction in the risk of decay when adding this to a comprehensive dental health routine as recommended by the ADA. Dental sealants — a thin, non-toxic protective coating painted on the surface of teeth — are typically applied for children and teens once permanent molars have emerged, between 6 and 14 years of age.

Dental sealants help keep cavities from forming but do not replace regular brushing and flossing.

Notably, children in San Joaquin County use dental services well below the state average.

Children’s oral health is linked to self-esteem, learning, personal expression, and overall health.

In 2020, approximately one in five kindergarten students in San Joaquin County had untreated tooth decay.

By the time students reach third grade, three out of every four students will have untreated decay — a 245% increase.

For more information about the Local Oral Health Program (LOHP), visit www.sjteeth.org, or contact Katelynn Peirce, Public Health Educator and LOHP Program Coordinator, at kpeirce@sjcphs.org or (209) 468-8620.

Their vision is to eliminate dental disease in children and promote a lifetime of dental health. Cheryl Laughlin is employed by the Public Information and Communications, San Joaquin County Public Health Services.

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

Published

3 days ago

March 1, 2026

Oakland Post

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Chase Oakland Community Center Hosts Alley-Oop Accelerator Building Community and Opportunity for Bay Area Entrepreneurs

Over the past three years, the Alley-Oop Accelerator has helped more than 20 Bay Area businesses grow, connect, and gain meaningful exposure. The program combines hands-on training, mentorship, and community-building to help participants navigate the legal, financial, and marketing challenges of small business ownership.

Published

2 weeks ago

February 21, 2026

Oakland Post

Bay Area entrepreneurs attend the Alley-Oop Accelerator, a small business incubation program at Chase Oakland Community Center. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Golden State Warriors and Chase bank hosted the third annual Alley-Oop Accelerator this month, an empowering eight-week program designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs bring their visions for business to life.

The initiative kicked off on Feb. 12 at Chase’s Oakland Community Center on Broadway Street, welcoming 15 small business owners who joined a growing network of local innovators working to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

At its core, the accelerator is designed to create an ecosystem of collaboration, where local entrepreneurs can learn from one another while accessing the resources of a global financial institution.

“This is our third year in a row working with the Golden State Warriors on the Alley-Oop Accelerator,” said Jaime Garcia, executive director of Chase’s Coaching for Impact team for the West Division. “We’ve already had 20-plus businesses graduate from the program, and we have 15 enrolled this year. The biggest thing about the program is really the community that’s built amongst the business owners — plus the exposure they’re able to get through Chase and the Golden State Warriors.”

According to Garcia, several graduates have gone on to receive vendor contracts with the Warriors and have gained broader recognition through collaborations with JPMorgan Chase.

“A lot of what Chase is trying to do,” Garcia added, “is bring businesses together because what they’ve asked for is an ecosystem, a network where they can connect, grow, and thrive organically.”

This year’s Alley-Oop Accelerator reflects that vision through its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on practical learning. Participants explore the full spectrum of business essentials including financial management, marketing strategy, and legal compliance, while also preparing for real-world experiences such as pop-up market events.

Each entrepreneur benefits from one-on-one mentoring sessions through Chase’s Coaching for Impact program, which provides complimentary, personalized business consulting.

Garcia described the impact this hands-on approach has had on local small business owners. He recalled one candlemaker, who, after participating in the program, was invited to provide candles as gifts at Chase events.

“We were able to help give that business exposure,” he explained. “But then our team also worked with them on how to access capital to buy inventory and manage operations once those orders started coming in. It’s about preparation. When a hiccup happens, are you ready to handle it?”

The Coaching for Impact initiative, which launched in 2020 in just four cities, has since expanded to 46 nationwide.

“Every business is different,” Garcia said. “That’s why personal coaching matters so much. It’s life-changing.”

Participants in the 2026 program will each receive a $2,500 stipend, funding that Garcia said can make an outsized difference. “It’s amazing what some people can do with just $2,500,” he noted. “It sounds small, but it goes a long way when you have a plan for how to use it.”

For Chase and the Warriors, the Alley-Oop Accelerator represents more than an educational initiative, it’s a pathway to empowerment and economic inclusion. The program continues to foster lasting relationships among the entrepreneurs who, as Garcia put it, “build each other up” through shared growth and opportunity.

“Starting a business is never easy, but with the right support, it becomes possible, and even exhilarating,” said Oscar Lopez, the senior business consultant for Chase in Oakland.