2009 Colgate/ADHA Community Outreach Award Winner:
Pinellas County Dental Hygiene Association under the direction of Maryellen Tilly
The Head Start Caries Intervention Program was implemented in Pinellas County, Florida to treat a target audience of at risk children enrolled at Head Start Centers throughout the county. The goal is to reduce the prevalence of dental caries in underserved, high risk populations providing fluoride varnish applications.
The objectives help meet objectives of Healthy People 2010 by increasing community awareness and action; increasing oral health knowledge; enhancing general overall and oral health through fluoride varnish applications.
National Head Start Program policies are followed including informed consent of the parents or caregivers, post-operative instructions, and CDC infection control guidelines.
This award will be presented at the ADHA Annual Session in Washington DC in June!
FDHA President's Message
The symbol of my presidency is the hot air balloon and the slogan is RISE TO NEW HEIGHTS. To me, this represents overcoming the professional and personal obstacles we each have faced in our lives. For quite a while I had thought about taking a ride in a hot air balloon, but let my fear of heights keep me on the ground. I don't even like to climb on a ladder! Finally, this past summer while attending the ADHA meeting in Albuquerque, I decided to challenge myself, step out of my comfort zone and be adventurous.
It was amazing! Imagine rising higher and higher above the ground - floating through the clear, crisp sky, the landscape stretching out for miles - seeing far horizons in the distance as you Rise To New Heights. Imagine the sensations you feel - elation, excitement, freedom, wonder. Nothing holds you down! What an experience!
Oral Healthcare Workforce Committee Advocates FDHA Legislative Platform
Florida Department of Health"s Oral Healthcare Workforce Committee Advocates Florida Dental Hygiene Association Legislative Platform
For Immediate Release, Please
Media inquiries, please contact Betty Dalton at (850) 865-1707 or via email
In its 'Health Practitioner Oral Healthcare Workforce Ad Hoc Committee Report' released on April 1, 2009, the Florida Department of Health has echoed the Florida Dental Hygiene Association"s policy recommendations that would eliminate or reduce supervisory requirements for dental hygienists practicing in public 'health access' settings in order to improve access to dental care.
'Especially during this economic crisis, in which so many people live without fundamental health care access, we are gratified to see the State of Florida recognize the urgency of delivering dental care to more people by recommending the full leveraging of professional hygienists as a trained and ready resource,' said Florida Dental Hygiene Association President Paula Schad.
The Department of Health"s Oral Healthcare Workforce Ad Hoc Committee was commissioned, among its other charges, to make recommendations to Florida"s State Surgeon General that will be evaluated and incorporated into a statewide strategic plan.
Addressing dental workforce concerns also was paramount to the mission of the Committee, which recommended that the State ' . . . investigate policy reform that would expand the scope of practice and eliminate or reduce supervisory requirements for dental hygienists practicing in health access settings in order to improve access to dental care.
The Florida Dental Hygiene Association is continuing ongoing collaborative efforts to develop and expand programs designed to meet the Committee"s recommendations.
To view the Florida Department of Health press release on the Report, go to this page.
To view the Report, go to this page.
To download a copy of this press release, go to this page.
Tobacco Cessation
In November 2006, citizens of the state of Florida voted on an amendment to increase anti-tobacco marketing funds. This increase in funding for anti-tobacco messages has allowed for a $17 million integrated social marketing and public relations anti-tobacco campaign. Targeting all segments of the smoking and tobacco-using population, Tobacco Free Florida supports existing Department of Health prevention and cessation initiatives and provides specialized messages to each target audience. Be sure to visit Tobacco Free Florida for more information. Help to encourage all Floridians to utilize the smoking prevention and cessation resources provided as part of the Tobacco Free Florida campaign. Thank you for your support of this campaign and for helping the Department of Health save lives throughout the state of Florida.
Discovered Treasure
Additional pins of the Immediate Past President, Cookie Martin, have been discovered and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are interested, contact Mel Warren at BeadsGalore (At) Comcast (Dot) Net.
