The Kindersmile Foundation

THE MISSION OF KINDERSMILE FOUNDATION IS TO PROVIDE UNDERSERVED CHILDREN WITH ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE DENTAL CARE AND EDUCATE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF DENTAL HYGIENE.

KINDERSMILE COMMUNITY ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM THE FLAGSHIP PROGRAM OF OUR ORGANIZATION, BRINGS PREVENTIVE DENTAL SERVICES TO SCHOOLS/COMMUNITY CENTERS BY FORGING PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS, EARLY CHILDHOOD AND HEAD START PROGRAMS, SCHOOLS SERVING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AND FAMILY-SERVICE AGENCIES. WE PROVIDE OFF-SITE/IN-SCHOOL ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION, DENTAL EXAMS, CARIES RISK ASSESSMENT, DENTAL CLEANING, FLOUORIDE APPLICATIONS, AND SEALANTS WHEN APPROPRIATE, ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO ACCESSING DENTAL CARE THAT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OFTEN FACE, AND LINKING CHILDREN TO A DENTAL HOME, WHERE COMPREHENSIVE DENTAL CARE MAY BE PROVIDED. OUR SUSTAINABLE MODEL ESTABLISHES A LINK TO A BRICK-AND-MORTAR DENTAL HOME WHILE FOCUSING ON THREE GOALS: EDUCATION, INTERVENTION, AND PREVENTION. OUR SPECIAL SMILES PROGRAM IS AN EXCITING EXPANSION OF KSOHP PROVIDING ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE AND ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION TO SCHOOLS SERVING CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. AT KINDERSMILE FOUNDATION OVER 90% OF THE CHILDREN WE SERVE COME FROM AT-RISK FAMILIES WITH INCOME BETWEEN 100-150% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. SCHOOL-BASED ORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO REACH CHILDREN FROM AT-RISK FAMILIES WHO HAVE A HIGHER RISK OF CARIES, AND LIMITED OR NO ACCESS TO CLINICAL CARE. OUR KSOHP COORDINATOR SCHEDULES BI-ANNUAL VISITS FOR ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND PREVENTIVE DENTAL CARE. AT THESE VISITS, DENTISTS, DENTAL HYGIENISTS, AND DENTAL ASSISTANTS PROVIDE AGE AND ABILITY APPROPRIATE ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION, DENTAL EXAMS, PROPHYLACTIC CLEANINGS, FLUORIDE VARNISH, AND DENTAL SEALANTS WHERE APPROPRIATE. ALL PREVENTIVE DENTAL CARE PROVIDED AT SCHOOL VISITS IS PROVIDED AT NO COST TO FAMILIES, REGARDLESS OF INSURANCE STATUS.

KINDERSMILE PERINATAL HEALTH & WELLNESS PROGRAM KINDERSMILE PERINATAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM BREAKS THE DANGEROUS CYCLE OF UNTREATED DENTAL DISEASES BY EMPOWERING UNINSURED PREGNANT & RECENTLY POSTPARTUM WOMEN WITH INFORMATIVE, PERSONAL, CULTURALLY-SENSITIVE TRAINING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MATERNAL ORAL HEALTH AND ITS IMPACT ON THE DEVELOPING FETUS AND YOUNG CHILDREN UNDER THE MOTHER'S CARE. "GRADUATES" OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM EARN A FULL YEAR OF FREE DENTAL CARE TO RESTORE THEIR SMILES TO FULL FUNCTIONALITY AND PAINLESSNESS. PHWP IS PERFECTLY ALIGNED WITH FIRST LADY TAMMY MURPHY'S HEALTHY WOMEN, HEALTHY FAMILIES PROGRAM, WHICH ADDRESSES THE HEALTHCARE INEQUITIES IN HIGH-RISK COMMUNITIES THAT IMPACT MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH. IN 2021 60 PERINATAL WOMEN FROM PREGNANCY TO THREE YEARS POSTPARTUM WERE LINKED TO OUR DENTAL HOME, WHERE THEY RECEIVED FREE PREVENTIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE DENTAL CARE. FURTHER, AFTER RECEIVING ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION THROUGH THE PROGRAM, THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN WERE LINKED TO KINDERSMILE COMMUNITY ORAL HEALTH CENTER AS WELL, ENSURING CRUCIAL ORAL HEALTH CARE FROM A YOUNG AGE.

KINDERSMILE COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM KINDERSMILE COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM MENTORS FUTURE PHILANTHROPIC & HEALTHCARE LEADERS BY PROVIDING HANDS-ON VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS FROM HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH GRADUATE SCHOOL. CLINICAL SHADOWING AND NONPROFIT INTERNSHIPS HELP PREPARE ALL MAJORS, FROM PRE-DENTAL TO PUBLIC HEALTH, EDUCATION AND BUSINESS. IN 2021 36 CSLP STUDENTS DONATED 1875 HOURS OF THEIR TIME, IN CLINICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND OUTREACH POSITIONS. THESE AMBITIOUS FUTURE LEADERS GO ON TO BECOME DENTISTS, PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCATES, OR HAVE CAREERS IN BUSINESS OR EDUCATION. OUR INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATE IN CLINICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND OUTREACH AT OUR DENTAL HOME AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. THEY ARE VALUED AND INTEGRAL MEMBERS OF THE KINDERSMILE TEAM. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPREAD EDUCATION AND ORAL HEALTH CARE TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AT HOME AND ABROAD.