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NDA-HEALTH NOW-New Orleans partners with Colgate to launch the project (Health Equity. Access. Literacy. Technology. Hope. National Outreach on Wheels) at the Treme Recreation Center Summer Camp in New Orleans in July. Photo/Provided by National Dental Association NDA project brings access, awareness, hope Established in 1913, The National Den- tal Association (NDA) promotes oral health equity among people of color by harnessing the collective power of its members, advocating for the needs of and mentoring dental students of color, and raising the profile of the profession in our communities. It views “access” as a matter of social justice. As both caregiv- ers and citizens of the communities that they serve, NDA members are trusted and respected providers who have been at the forefront of treating those who have the least and need the most. Dental care is medically necessary, yet millions of Americans lack access to care. Despite advances in health care and tech- nology, glaring disparities exist in some population groups as classified by age, sex, income and race/ethnicity. To ad- dress these inequities, the NDA-HEALTH NOW™ (Health Equity. Access. Literacy. Technology. Hope. National Outreach on Wheels) project was formed. Goals are to increase access, eliminate disparities and improve health equity in under- served and vulnerable populations. A grassroots, community-based pro- gram, NDA-HEALTH NOW replicates and takes to scale key features of the Deam- onte Driver Dental Project (DDDP), the award-winning regional children’s pro- gram launched in 2008 for Prince Georg- es County, Md. The program serves children, adults and the elderly. In addition to dental care, it offers medical and vision ser- vices. The Project promotes inter-profes- sional health teams working with emerg- ing workforce models to increase access and improve “total health” in America’s most vulnerable communities. Com- munity programs are designed for use either with or without a mobile unit. Increasing awareness about the criti- cal link between oral health and overall health is a key message. A mixed-use mobile health unit (MHU) designed by ADI-Mobile Health is tour- ing the country to raise funds and cru- sade for healthier communities. It is specially equipped to provide each pa- tient with dental screenings and treat- ment, as well as with health screenings (blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol), immunizations and flu shots, and vi- sion screenings. The unit, its design and exhibition at various conferences has been made possible through donations from ADI-Mobile Health, Henry Schein and the Greater New York Dental Meet- ing. Other sponsors and supporters in- clude: the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Coca-Cola Foundation, the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Colgate, A-dec Inc., Philips Sonicare, Air Techniques Inc., the Aetna Foundation, the Links Foundation Inc., Crest Oral-B, Patterson Dental, Oral Health America and Sunstar. Resources are also provided by aca- demic partners and an expansive vol- unteer network of NDA members and community organizations. Programs are ctive in targeted communities in Chi- cago, Dallas, New York and New Orleans. Funds are being raised to operate and staff the MHUs to provide resources and services to underserved communities. NDA President, Dr. Carrie Brown said, “We have launched a crusade for health- ier communities that challenges the status quo. We will meet those in need where they are and support our provid- ers, who have made a commitment to remain in communities where they are most needed. While we acknowledge and support health outreach efforts around the globe; we must remain firmly rooted in our conviction that humanitarianism starts at home.” For more information and to donate, visit www.ndaonline.org/healthnow. (Source: National Dental Association) Dental Tribune U.S. Edition | June 2015 a7INDUSTRY NEWS Ad