Links for Volunteerism Opportunities
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR ORAL HEALTH
In NJ you can assist children is obtaining needed oral healthcare - volunteer and/or contribute with:
American Dental Hygienists’ Association Institute for Oral Health
Scam Alert 6/7/2023:
The Division of Consumer Affairs (Division) is warning all licensed professionals about individuals impersonating New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) investigators, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, DEA investigators, New Jersey Drug Control Unit investigators, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigators, and other law enforcement personnel, as part of an extortion scheme.
The impersonators are contacting licensees by telephone or letter, stating that they are the subject of an investigation. The callers are demanding money to clear up the matter, or threatening to revoke the individual’s license. Please be advised that the Division of Consumer Affairs will not contact licensees by telephone to discuss investigations or demand money.
Anyone receiving a telephone call from a person purporting to be any of the above mentioned individuals seeking money, should refuse the demand. We encourage you to report the call to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You may also report the call to the Division at AskConsumerAffairs@lps.state.nj.us
ADHA Institute for Oral Health (IOH) - Apply for Needed Funds
IOH administers funds for a variety of projects.
Congratulations to the MJKD Award
Winner
Amy Shah, RDH, MDH, is this year's recipient of the MJKD Faculty Mentorship Award! Amy is a member of Southern Component and on the faculty at Rowan College of Burlington County. She will receive the award during the Opening Session of the Annual Conference in October.
Bright Smiles, Bright Fultures
Delivering Health Education to Children
Calling all dental professionals!!!
The Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program is looking for volunteers for visual examinations on children 12 years and younger at locations throughout New Jersey and New York.
CLICK HERE to view the letter from Omar Sanchez, RDH, NJDHA's Public Health Issues Director, with dates and locations listed.
You can email newyorkbsbfteam@gmail.com any dates you are interesting in volunteering for, and more information on the screening process will be emailed to you.
Dental Hygienist Spotlight is an opportunity with NJDHA to tell your story and show those in our state and beyond how you make a difference in your community, state, nation, or world as a dental hygienist volunteer. NJDHA’s goal with Dental Hygienist Spotlight is to share the journey of various dental hygienists through NJDHA. It is to demonstrate how we, as dental hygienists, make a difference in such diverse and unique ways each day to impact others’ lives and enhance overall health. We want to empower other dental hygienists to engage in your journey and possibly create a pathway in their lives to serve others as a dental hygienist volunteer. We want to shed light to others on the multiple opportunities to volunteer as a dental hygiene professional and the numerous variations to accommodate your schedule to volunteer. Nominate yourself or a fellow hygienist today!!
NJDHAs Spotlight for July 2024 is on Alexis Schone, RDH, BSDH
Education
RDH Middlesex College
BSDH The University of Bridgeport, Fones School of Dental Hygiene
Studying for MSDH at U of B, Fones School of Dental Hygiene
Practice
Clinician at Brielle Dentistry Co
Brielle, NJ
Clinical Instructor at RCBC Dental Hygiene Program
Mount Laurel, NJ
Service to the Profession and Community
MC GKAS-2017, 2018
SADHA Student Representative 2016, 2017
CNJDHA Social Media Liaison 2017-2022
CNJDHA Vice President/Acting Secretary 2022-2024
CNJDHA President (Acting Secretary/Acting Social Media Liaison) 5/2024-Present
NJDHA Communications Director 1/2024-Present
MC Senior Roundtable 2022, 2023, 2024
Family
I am engaged to my best friend. I was blessed to be a mom first and raised four amazing children; Kayla-26 CPA and Skydive Instructor, Gabriella-23 will graduate from Drexel Physician’s Assistant program in December 2024, Taylor-21 attending Full Sail University in Florida for music production, and Lilyahnna-17 will graduate high school in 2025. We are an active outdoor family that prefers to be on or near the ocean. I have 3 beloved and spoiled pets; 2 dogs-Trixie and Athena, and 1 cat-Lola. Between raising my children, furthering my education, and full-time clinical schedule I have been limited in my availability to volunteer but plan to be more involved once I complete the grad program.
History & Goals
I began college late in life but always dreamed of being a dental hygienist. I grew up never having been to the dentist until I was 20 years old. I was receiving SRP’s and periodontal maintenance every year, not understanding why visiting the dentist was always filled with anxiety and discomfort and decided one day I would be a hygienist and provide gentle care to my patients. To my surprise, in dental hygiene school, I learned how to get my oral health to an optimal place, how to keep it there, and how compromised my health had been for so long. This was when I realized that I had never received patient education beyond “you need to floss more,” and this became my primary goal. I have dedicated myself to educating my patients and teaching them how to have a healthy smile, in addition to the importance of the oral/systemic link for optimal health.
It is important for me to develop a rapport with my patients that initializes their trust in me to care for them gently in a compassionate environment, and this, in turn, results in compliance. I take the time to gather research for my patients when they have questions and make care calls after SRP or anxious visits.
After 5 years in practice as a clinician a new fire ignited within me to share my passion with future RDH’s, and I set my sites on higher education. Since I have been on this journey, I have found this is where my passion truly lies, in education. The more education I receive, the more I want to know.
Recently I was afforded the opportunity to become a clinical instructor at Rowan College of Burlington County. The first day of working with the students was the most rewarding experience I could imagine. I am finally sharing my passion and guiding future professionals and I am so excited for what is yet to come.
My history with the ADHA began while I was in dental hygiene school and elected to be the student representative. This was my introduction to the professional body of our profession, and it was enlightening. I was so impressed with what was going on behind the scenes and knew I would continue to always be a part of it. Deborah Locke and Faith Ochiogrosso were two of my instructors at Middlesex College, and they were always speaking about the association and their involvement, encouraging students to become members after graduation. I attended the senior roundtable hosted by the CNJDHA just before graduation and learned so much more. Upon graduation, Faith sent me correspondence asking if I wanted to get involved and before I knew it, I was the Social Media Liaison for Central NJDHA. My primary responsibility was preparing and sending mass emails to members with upcoming event information. After a few years of this, I was nominated for Vice President and graciously accepted the offer. NJDHA President Dr. Stacy Onofrietti approached me in December 2023 with the opportunity to become the Communications Director at the state level, and I was honored to be considered. I graciously accepted this opportunity and am very much enjoying taking care of the website as it keeps me apprised of everything happening in dental hygiene in our state. Some more movement began within our board, and I took on the acting secretary and social media liaison roles. This year some issues arose, and it became necessary to step into the President role, and I was unanimously voted in. I have been working hard in an attempt to reorganize the Central component and have made it my priority to make it an active and successful charter. My goal for Central is to retain and grow our membership, get more involved with the community, and be the liaison to the ADHA that our members can be confident in.
SHARE YOUR STORY, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW
Email form to: centraloffice@njdha.org
Veterans Smile Day is a community-driven event designed to offer free dental care to veterans, who often face barriers to accessing necessary dental services. Research shows that 85% of the 8.7 million veterans enrolled in the system are ineligible for Veterans Affairs dental benefits. Additionally, in a 2021 study, veterans were nearly twice as likely to have moderate-severe periodontal disease than nonveterans, as well as three times more likely to have missing teeth. The American Dental Association (ADA) convened its first-ever Give Veterans a Smile Summit in May 2022, which highlighted the need to prioritize the delivery and access to care for veterans across the country.
Location: RCBC Dental Hygiene Clinic
Date: October 25, 2024
The launch of this pilot program aligns with National Dental Hygiene Month in October, as well as Veterans Day. This full-day event will bring together RCBC’s dental hygiene students, volunteer dental professionals, veteran’s center, and community members to provide dental education and services to underserved veterans. Our goal is to improve the oral health of veterans, raise awareness about the importance of dental hygiene, and honor the service of our veterans. Veterans Smile Day will provide comprehensive dental examinations, cleanings, fillings, extractions, and oral health education at no cost to our veterans.
Congratulations to Amy Shah, RDH, MDH
The Mars Wrigley Foundation Healthier Smiles Program has awarded Amy Shah, the dental hygiene program director at Rowan College of Burlington County, $5000 to launch the pilot program
"Veterans Smile Day"
Another Year of Success for the NJ Special Olympics Healthy Athletes Special Smiles Program-
Participation by NJDHA Members, Dental Hygiene Program Faculty, & Dental Hygiene Students
The Special Olympics of New Jersey welcomed the New Jersey Dental Hygienists’ Association to its upcoming Special Smiles event. Healthy Athletes Special Smiles Program for the 2024 Summer Games for the Special Olympics was held from June 7-9 and NJDHA members and dental hygiene program students attended to volunteer their time and skills.
The NJ Special Olympics Smiles Program was a success again, with the inclusion and diversity of dental hygiene volunteers joining through our NJDHA outreach. The NJ Special Olympics welcomed any dental professional, dental and dental hygiene student for their Healthy Athletes “Special Smiles” event at The College of New Jersey. Oral health screenings were provided for the athletes by the dental hygienists, dentists, and dental students volunteering. Dental hygiene students promoted continued oral health by checking in athletes, fabricating mouthguards, and providing oral health instruction for the athletes after screenings.
A huge additional thanks to the dental hygienists, faculty, and students for diving into this outreach this year to support the oral health of these athletes and their caregivers oral health knowledge. For more information on future Special Olympics event volunteering opportunities in Fall 2024 for dental hygienists and dental hygiene students, please watch our NJDHA website and social media outlets for more information. View photos from the volunteers at the Summer 2024 Special Smiles Event below. Thank you to all who give back!
Email us to see how you can help: centraloffice@njdha.org
RAM aims to improve oral health awareness and offer free services to those who might not have regular access to dental care. Pamela Graboso-Saul RDH, MSDH, and Professor Lynn Tobin from Middlesex College were among the volunteers who provided medical and dental screenings, preventive care, and patient education. Patients expressing their gratitude highlight the need for improved access to health care and give volunteers motivation to do so again.
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association continues to serve its members with a productive House of Delegates. This year’s decisions will make our Association more efficient, attract new members, and advance policies that reflect our 21st Century profession.
The ADHA HOD is the annual business meeting of the Association, in the same way NJDHA General Membership Meeting is the Constituent’s business meeting. The outcome of our House of Delegates is
A new slate of Officers and Directors
Directors
District I: Carmen Negron-Dupee BSFCS RDH
District II: Carolynn Wahl RDH BSDH PHDHP FADHA
District III: Sheri Moore RDH BSHS FADHA
District IV: Renee Spencer RDH FADHA
District V: Jerelyn Smith RDH FADHA
District VI: Carrie Fowler RDH
District VII: Carissa Renae Regnerus RDH MA FADHA
District VIII: Christina Emmert RDH PRP FADHADistrict IX: Joanna Allaire RDH BSDH MDH FADHADistrict X: Laura Green RDH MEd FADHADistrict XI: Pamela Larrabee RDH BAS MA
Officers
President: Erin Haley-Hitz RDH BSDH MS FADHA MAADH
President-elect: Lancette Van Guilder BS RDH PHEDH CEAS FADHA
Vice President: Jessica August CDA RDH BSDH MSDH
Speaker of the HOD: Valoree Althoff MHA BSDH CPP-T PRP FADHA
Immediate Past President: Becky Smith CRDH EdD FADHA
Treasurer: Chante Miller CRDH CLSSGB MBA
A Bylaws amendment that gives the responsibility of amending the Bylaws to the ADHA Board of Directors, similar to the responsibility NJDHA Board of Directors has for our Constituent’s Bylaws.
A new category of membership entitled New Professional Members, who can be targeted for discounted rates and special programs to introduce them to the profession and foster their involvement and loyalty to the Association.
Two policy statements supporting professional growth and autonomy.
A policy statement supporting the reduction of barriers new dental hygienists face in getting licensed.
A policy statement broadening support of loan forgiveness to dental hygienists
A definition of free sugars and a policy statement supporting the limitation of free sugars in the diet.
Special thanks to our District II Director
Carolynn Wahl RDH BSDH PHDHP FADHA
Our NJDHA Delegation
Chair
Howard M Notgarnie RDH EdD FADHA
Delegate
Stacy Onofrietti RDH MS PhD CHP FADHA
Delegate
Mary Buttery RDH
Alternate
Kim Attanasi PhD BCMAS RDH FADHA
Alternate
Sue Scherer BS RDH
Delegate
Pamela Graboso-Saul RDH MSDH
