Dear Friend,
Thank you for being part of the KinderSmile Foundation village! We hope that you and your family are in good health. Your continued support has been truly appreciated!
Since our last Newsletter, we have continued to safely treat our patients in all three Dental Homes, while complying with all recommended COVID-19 protocols. Our Dental Homes continue to increase access to oral health education and dental care for our State's most underserved populations.
Please read on to learn about our charity's expanded efforts of eradicating dental disease across New Jersey. We could not do it without all of you. #ItTakesAVillage
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The Latest from KinderSmile Foundation:
Veterans Health and Wellness Program and
Smiles for Seniors Oral Health and Wellness Program
KinderSmile Foundation’s Veterans Health and Wellness Program (VHWP), launching with a Veterans Day 2021 event, bridges the gap in access to oral health care for uninsured US Veterans in the urban community of Trenton. We are grateful for the COF Barclay-Giel Seed Grant for supporting this pilot program.
Over 85% of Veterans do not qualify for any VA dental care. Recent news has exposed the lack of care for Veterans, whose oral health care is subject to their ability to pay, ability to qualify for insurance, and ability to find access to a Dental Home.
Similar to our Perinatal Health and Wellness Program, which was initiated in 2016 at KinderSmile Community Oral Health Center Bloomfield, VHWP breaks the dangerous cycle of untreated dental diseases by empowering uninsured Veterans with informative, personal, culturally-sensitive training about the impact of oral health on total wellbeing, including oral health education, nutritional counseling related to dental disease, and tobacco counseling for the control and prevention of oral disease.
Smiles for Seniors Oral Health and Wellness Program, supported by Friends Foundation for the Aging, provides oral health education and transitions the participants to receive comprehensive dental care with an established link to a permanent Dental Home at KinderSmile Community Oral Health Center Trenton.
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KinderSmile Community Oral Health Centers
Bloomfield, Newark, and Trenton
KSCOHC Bloomfield, which recently celebrated 5 years, has continued to provide access to care to thousands of at-risk youth in Essex county and vicinity, providing a link to one of the only Dental Homes in the area where uninsured children and perinatal mothers could get free or affordable care. We are grateful to The Delta Dental of NJ Foundation, The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, Partners for Health Foundation, The Montclair Foundation, and Hyde and Watson Foundation for their continued support!
KSCOHC Newark, located at The Boys and Girls Club of Newark is open to Club members and the community, and had been thriving, providing care to underserved youth in this medically underserved city. We thank Delta Dental of NJ Foundation, Dr. Michael Gruber, and The MCJ Amelior Foundation for supporting this Dental Home.
KSCOHC Trenton provides quality comprehensive dental care for underserved and uninsured adults and children alike. With over 85,000 residents, where 63% of children are insured by Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare, and many are entirely uninsured, Trenton is designated as medically underserved. We are grateful to The George H. and Estelle M. Sands Foundation, The Princeton Area Community Foundation, The Burke Foundation, Delta Dental of NJ Foundation, PACF Fund for Women and Girls, I Am Trenton, and The Smith Family Foundation, for their support of our Trenton Dental Home. We extend a special appreciation to Deborah Sands Gartenberg. Thank you!
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Looking Through the Lens of an American Dental Association Member
Please enjoy the following video, featuring KinderSmile Foundation's Founder and CEO Dr. Nicole McGrath-Barnes. This video was broadcasted at the SmileCon 2021 convention of the American Dental Association in Las Vegas, NV.
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Smiling in the Community
KinderSmile Foundation was founded in the community and for the community, and through the COVID-19 challenges and limits we are excited to return to our partners! Thank you to Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation, AAPD Foundation, Summit Foundation, Overlook Foundation, and Partners for Health Foundation for supporting KinderSmile Oral Health Program (KSOHP).
KSOHP continued its visits to GRACE Summit, with Board Member Dorrie Gagnon, RDH. GRACE visits include oral health education, diagnostic, and preventive dental care for the uninsured, linking patients back to our Bloomfield Dental Home for comprehensive care when needed.
KSOHP Trenton is flourishing with Dr. Nicole McGrath-Barnes' dental care offsite visits to Saint Bartholomew Head Start Program and Foundation Academy Charter school.
KSCOHC Newark's Adjo Somenou hosted oral health education and a tabling event at Boys and Girls Club of Newark Day for Kids 5K to Wellness Carnival and Community Health Fair.
KinderSmile Oral Health Program Special Smiles, is on board this school year, as we continue our partnerships with Pillar Elementary School and with The Arc Mercer in Trenton. Children and adults with special needs endure greater barriers to accessing care, and are at greater risk for dental diseases. We provide oral health education and preventive dental care to hundreds of developmentally disabled students and their caretakers, while promoting the importance of routine, self-determination, and competency in oral hygiene and nutritional habits. The program integrates a link to a dental home where quality dental care can be continued if needed.
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Our Programs and Volunteer Opportunities
KinderSmile Community Service Learning Program perseveres. In addition to shadowing and assisting providers and staff, our volunteers greet our patients, screen for COVID-19 symptoms, and ensure that all newly implemented protocols are followed. Thank you for being a crucial part of our team, we appreciate all that you do!
Thank you to our amazing CSLP volunteers Allyson, Ayanna, Jihad, Lissa, Lucah, Mauravi, Michael, Nafisa, Nyeilla, Priya, Priyanka, Ujwal, and Zeynep for being a part of our team!
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Dr. Arias, Dr. Bradshaw, Dr. Forbes, Dr. Goldman, Dr. Kahn, and Melka Argaw, RDH volunteer their time and professional talent, and treat uninsured patients at KSOHP visits and at KinderSmile Community Oral Health Centers Bloomfield and Trenton, as part of our Give Back a Smile Program. Thank you!
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This November we count our blessings, as we have been lucky to continue to serve the community through a global pandemic, and even expand our programs to US Veterans and seniors. We are truly grateful to our donors, grantors, volunteers, and friends who are all part of the KinderSmile Foundation "village."
Thank you for helping us achieve our mission to provide access to oral health care and ensure that every child has access to a dentist! Together, we can work towards eradicating preventable dental disease. We couldn't do it without all of you!
Blessings,
Nicole McGrath-Barnes, DDS, FACD
Founder & CEO
KinderSmile Foundation
Our Mission: To provide underserved children with access to comprehensive dental care and educate children & their families about the importance of dental hygiene.
Our Vision: A future where every child has access to a dentist and preventable dental diseases are eradicated.
KSOHP - KinderSmile Oral Health Program
Bringing oral health education and preventive dental care to schools & community events
PHWP - Perinatal Health & Wellness Program
Promoting maternal oral health and dental care during pregnancy and early childhood
CSLP - Community Service Learning Program
Youth mentorship through volunteer work & internships
GBAS - Give Back A Smile
Volunteer opportunities for dental professionals
Our Contact Information
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