American Academy Of Pediatric Dentistry Wins ASAE's 2010 Associations Advance America Award Of Excellence

Main Category: Dentistry
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 21 Jun 2010 - 4:00 PDT

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The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the recognized leader in children's dental and oral health, is one of only 21 organizations nationally to receive an Award of Excellence in the second round of the 2010 Associations Advance America (AAA) Awards program, a national competition sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and The Center for Association Leadership, Washington, D.C.

AAPD received the award for its AAPD Head Start Dental Home Initiative. This program is now in the running to receive a Summit Award, ASAE & The Center's top recognition for association programs, to be presented in ceremonies at ASAE's 11th Annual Summit Awards Dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., on September 29, 2010.

AAPD and Head Start (HS) are partnering at national, regional, state and local levels to develop a national network of dentists to link Head Start children with dental homes. A dental home means that each child's oral health care is delivered in a comprehensive, ongoing, accessible, coordinated, family-centered way by a dentist.

This partnership also provides parents, caregivers and HS staff with the latest evidence-based information on how they can help prevent tooth decay and establish a foundation for a lifetime of oral health.

The AAPD Head Start Dental Home Initiative, which is in its third year of a five-year contract, will establish dental homes for the approximately 1 million children enrolled annually in Head Start across the United States. The five-year plan relies on five key components:

- Providing project leadership, administration and organizational support;
- Providing oral health expertise and technical assistance;
- Developing networks of dentists to provide access to dental homes;
- Training dentists to enhance their capability to meet the oral health needs of young children and their understanding of HS programs; and
- Enhancing HS oral health staff training and parent education programs.

Now in its 20th year, the prestigious Associations Advance America Awards program recognizes associations that propel America forward - with innovative projects in education, skills training, standards-setting, business and social innovation, knowledge creation,

citizenship and community service. Although association activities have been a powerful impact on everyday life, they often go unnoticed by the general public.

"AAPD's program truly embodies the spirit of the Associations Advance America campaign. It is an honor and an inspiration to showcase this activity as an example of the many contributions associations are making to advance American society," said the 2009-2010 Associations Advance America (AAA) Committee Chair Ping Wei, director of educational opportunities for the American Society of Civil Engineers.

"AAPD is deeply honored to receive this award on behalf of our members, professional partners and Head Start programs throughout America. Through this initiative we are combining their professional and creative talents, and developing the infrastructure necessary to provide Head Start children with the foundation for a lifetime of optimal oral health," noted Project Director Dr. Jim Crall.

Source:
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

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