Dear Friend,
We hope this newsletter finds you in good health and high spirits as we welcome the vibrant season of spring!
At KinderSmile Foundation, we continue to work diligently to provide access to oral health education and dental care. This is made possible by your continued support and advocacy. THANK YOU!
We are excited to share what we have been up to this season! In this newsletter, we feature how Give Kids a Smile Day was celebrated at all three of our Dental Homes throughout the entire month of February. In addition, you will learn more about the work that KinderSmile Foundation is doing to further our mission and advocate for providing access to oral health care on a macro level. Together, we can continue to work to eradicate dental disease and ensure every family has access to a dentist. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. #ItTakesAVillage
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Nicole McGrath-Barnes, DDS, FACD
Founder & CEO KinderSmile Foundation |
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What is happening at KinderSmile Foundation? |
Give Kids A Smile 2023
One of the ways we serve our community is through Give Kids a Smile Day – a national program that was launched by the American Dental Association in 2003. On the first Friday in February, in tandem with the national celebration of Children’s Dental Health Month, underserved children receive free dental care, regardless of insurance status. Our goal is to link kids to a Dental Home so that they continue to receive regular care.
KinderSmile Foundation has always taken part in Give Kids a Smile Day. We also provide fun, educational opportunities for our patients. Representatives from dental insurance companies were on location at each Dental Home to help sign families up for dental insurance. Following NJ’s expansion of Medicaid, all qualified children, regardless of immigration status, are now eligible for NJ Family Care.
This year, we extended this celebration for the entire month! At all three of our Dental Homes, uninsured patients in February received their exams, X-rays, and cleanings at no cost.
As an organization, we served a total of 737 children, and provided oral health education to an additional 713 children!
Of the patients seen: 28.9% were uninsured, 66.5% were insured by Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare, and only 4.6% had private dental insurance.
The value of care was an astounding $455,790.03 for the services provided to children!
A special thanks to Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation for their continued support of KSF's Give Kids a Smile Day!
Click on the image below to watch a video of Give Kids a Smile Day 2023! |
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New Jersey Medical Assistance
Advisory Council Appointment
We are honored to announce that Dr. Nicole McGrath-Barnes has been appointed to the New Jersey Medical Assistance Advisory Council (MAAC)! As a member of the MAAC, Dr. Nicole will use her expertise in oral health care to advocate for policies and programs that ensure medical assistance recipients have access to high-quality care.
"I am honored to be appointed to the Medical Assistance Advisory Council and to have the opportunity to work alongside other healthcare leaders to make a positive impact on the lives of New Jersey residents," said Dr. Nicole. "At KinderSmile Foundation, we believe that every family deserves access to quality oral health care, regardless of their background or income level. I look forward to using my expertise and experience to help shape policies that will make that vision a reality."
The Board and team at KinderSmile Foundation congratulate Dr. Nicole on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to supporting her in this new role.
Click here to read our press release! |
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Save the Date!
KinderSmile Foundation is excited to have North and Central Jersey premieres of our documentary Toothache: The Painful Truth About Oral Health Care Inequity. We can't wait to see you there! |
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Addressing Oral Health Nationally
On March 29, 2023, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Chair of the Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, held the first hearing of the 118th Congress called Oral Health: Identifying and Addressing Health Disparities.
Senator Cardin stated, "Oral health is integral to 'overall' health and well-being. It can make worse an underlying health condition, impacting overall healthcare cost. It can impact a person’s ability to get a job and be well enough to work. It impacts a person’s ability to go to school, impacting the local and national economy. It can impact a person’s confidence and ability to enjoy life, or communicate effectively, affecting communities and overall society. Despite the importance of oral health, millions of people in the United States are not getting the care they need."
Click here to watch the hearing! |
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KinderSmile Community Oral Health Centers
Bloomfield, Newark, and Trenton |
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KinderSmile Foundation is blessed to have incredible members of our village at Bloomfield, Newark, and Trenton, New Jersey where we serve uninsured and underinsured patients. Our staff and volunteers guarantee that everyone who walks through the door is provided with the highest level of care and respect. Click here to visit our website and learn more today! |
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On behalf of the entire KinderSmile Village, we express our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support. Your generosity brings hope and smiles to those who need it most. Your tax-deductible donation has a direct, lasting impact on the health and well-being of every child and adult served at our Dental Homes and through KinderSmile Oral Health Program, Perinatal Health and Wellness Program, and Special Smiles Program. Click here to donate today! To learn more about donations of stock or making a planned gift, please email Cassie Jaeger, KinderSmile Foundation's Development Director - Cassie.Jaeger@KinderSmile.org |
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