Tufts

Step UP Schools

James J. Chittick Elementary School in Mattapan
John Marshall Elementary School in Dorchester

Tufts University's contributions to the Step UP program reflect the expertise of faculty, staff and students on its Boston-based Health Sciences Campus and its Medford/Somerville-based department of education.

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) staff and students provide dental care to students at six Step Up schools at no out-of-pocket cost to parents. All oral health screenings, cleanings, fluoride varnishes and application of cavity-preventing sealants are done on-site at the schools. By attending parent nights and other school events, TUSDM Step UP staff has grown the program from treating 372 students in the 2007-2008 school year to treating 600 students in the 2009-2010 school year.

Dental services are offered at Tufts' partner schools, the James J. Chittick Elementary School and the John Marshall Elementary School. Faculty member Silas Pinto, Ph.D., and six of his school psychology graduate students provide weekly social emotional health support at the Chittick and the Marshall. At the Marshall, Tufts arranges for a leadership coach for the principal and Department of Education Chair Barbara Brizuela, Ph.D., is working with the math coach on a professional development initiative.

Tufts also collaborates with other Step UP university partners to provide programming to its schools. With Boston University, Tufts conducted a month-long workshop series on physical activity at the Chittick in March 2010. Students in after-school programs at the Chittick and the Marshall have also benefited from academic support provided by Harvard.