Youth can change communities. Tobacco. Bullying. Texting and Driving. Drug and alcohol abuse. These are all health issues youth have embraced because of impact on their lives and the lives of those in their communities. While oral health is also an extremely important issue, history indicates that youth—as a whole—have not been engaged. However, with oral health’s linkage to heart disease and diabetes, its relevance to nutrition, self esteem, and overall healthy habits, and its prevalence in all socioeconomic and geographic areas, its impact on the lives of youth is irrefutable. Moreover, the visibility of teens in a community—whether at a Walmart, a health fair, or civic gatherings—creates unparalleled awareness for oral health. !In July 2013, NCOHF initiated, developed, and launched the My Smile Matters Youth Movement to change the trajectory of youth involvement in oral health. NCOHF disseminated resources and opportunities aimed at fostering youth’s connection with oral health, passion for preventing pain and suffering caused by tooth decay, and understanding of the importance of a healthy smile. In doing so, youth not only began to view dental disease as a social justice issue rather than simply a matter of personal responsibility, but also began to appreciate the power they have to make a difference in the world. !

Across the country, HOSA: Future Health Professionals were recruited to play a pivotal role in changing the lives of children. In Dearborn County, Indiana, 18 high school students opted to participate in the Movement by providing critical oral health education to students in three elementary schools. The high school principal was so overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and excitement of his students—and committed to their involvement—that he himself drove the “mini-bus” to transport students to the elementary schools. Both male and female students purchased ToothFairy costumes in attempt to spark the interest of the children they were educating. Furthermore, 6 of these students felt compelled to share their stories by applying for one of eight My Smile Matters Youth Awards. This group from Dearborn County is just one of many of the spirited student groups the Movement attracts. Overall, it’s clear that HOSA students value the resources and support NCOHF provided them with throughout the Movement: students nominated NCOHF as one of only three organizations eligible to become their National Service Project for the 2014-2016 school years. !

My Smile Matters: A Youth Movement An Introduction

“My main desire is to ensure children, leaders, and volunteers are aware of the critical needs of families living in impoverished homes within my community and

communities throughout the country.”

Isaac McFarland

“By helping save the smiles of children in my community,

the potential for them to open a door to an

opportunity that may not

Hannah Vaca

Boys and Girls Clubs in all 50 states were enthusiastic participants in the Movement. Notably, NCOHF connected Clubs with local NCOHF partners for oral health education activities. In Bend, Oregon, NCOHF cultivated a relationship between the Kemple Dental Clinic, Bluefish Dental, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Oregon to arm teens with oral health education and provide care for those Boys and Girls Club members in need. Club members received resources such as Community Education Kits and suggested activities, display board downloads for health fairs and parent pick up/drop off locations, promotional materials, and opportunities to connect with youth participants across the country—all to empower them to change the trajectory of dental disease in our country. !Finally, Girl Scout and Boy Scout Troops throughout the country have responded to the Movement’s Patch Programs with an overwhelming amount of interest and excitement. More than 15,000 Scouts have committed to earning a Real-Life ToothFairy Patch or a SuperHero Squad Patch by participating in NCOHF-required oral health activities that inspire discovery, connection, and action. One Girl Scout Troop in Arizona plans to look at oral health from a global perspective, visit a local dentist’s office, and write ToothFairy letters for children in order to earn their Real-Life ToothFairy patches. !

While the issues embedded in dental disease and oral health disparities are complex and challenging, youth are now realizing their power to change children’s lives through this Movement. Cognitive psychology has taught us that past experience and belief in personal relevance are exceptionally important to the decisions we make (Juliusson, Karlsson, & Gӓrling, 2005, Acevedo, & Krueger, 2004). Youth will carry with them their involvement in this Movement and the results of their education, advocacy, and awareness raising work in their communities. Ultimately, this will inform their personal and professional decisions with an eye towards service and overall health, while altering the landscape of community involvement in children’s oral health.

My Smile Matters: A Youth Movement An Introduction

Danielle Ernspiker !“I would like to attend dental school and

continue to reach out to the community by providing opportunities for children who might not have access to dental care.”

Devanshi Udeshi !“I plan on fighting for health for as long

as I can and helping every person, regardless of ethnic background. Serving

on the America’s ToothFairy Youth Advisory Council will give me all the necessary tools to make it happen.”

My Smile Matters: A Youth Movement FY14 NCOHF Youth Programs

In  August  2013  the  My  Smile  Matters  Youth  Movement  began  spreading  awareness  of  children’s  oral  health  to  a  new  audience  through  engagement  with  high  schools  and  community  youth  organizations.      National  partnerships  with  HOSA:  Future  Health  Professionals  and  Boys  and  Girls  Clubs  of  America  helped  deliver  the  message;  National  Children’s  Oral  Health  Foundation:  America’s  ToothFairy  worked  with  each  participant  to  provide  for  and  start  a  new  oral  health  emphasis.   !By  June  2014,  407  high  schools  had  registered  through  the  Students  United  with  America’s  ToothFairy  program  to  participate  in  education,  awareness,  and  advocacy  projects  surrounding  children’s  oral  health.    602  Boys  and  Girls  Clubs  were  selected  and/or  opted-­‐in  to  receive  oral  health  education  materials  to  enhance  their  programming  and  integrate  into  peer  and  cross  age  mentoring  activities.      In  total,  over  14,000  teens  began  learning  and  acting  on  educational  strategies  to  Vight  the  number  one  chronic  childhood  illness  and  helped  reach  an  estimated  500,000  children.     !During  this  10  month  period,  youth  served  their  communities  in  an  entirely  new  way  by,  for  example:    !★Collecting toothbrushes and toothpaste for at-risk children; ★Educating younger children on the importance of positive habits; ★Working with special needs peers on proper oral hygiene; ★Adapting oral health educational materials for autistic learners; ★Preparing posters on oral health for high school health fairs; and ★Otherwise reaching underserved children and parents with oral health messaging !

America’s  ToothFairy  helped  each  step  of  the  way  by  providing  or  facilitating:  

The  Youth  Movement  continues  to  build  momentum,  with  over  750  Girls  and  Boy  Scout  Troops  already  registered  for  the  new  ToothFairy  and  SuperHero  Squad  Patch  Programs.      The  impact  of  these  youth  is  poised  to  dramatically  change  national  attitudes  and  awareness  on  oral  health,  while  serving  our  communities’  children.

★Community Education Kits ★Program Consults and Weekly

Newsletters ★Youth Activities Guides ★Dental Career Exposure Opportunities ★Password Protected Portal with

Downloadable Resources ★Participation Incentives

★Training Materials ★Community Connections ★Leadership Programs (Youth Advisory Council) ★Recognition through the My Smile Matters: Youth

Awards ★Travel Scholarships to the Chicago Dental Society

Mid-Winter Meeting and the NCOHF OHZ Summit

!

!!!!!!

Students United with America’s ToothFairy FY14 High School Recap

Here’s What 407 High Schools Did: ★Collected over 12,000 toothbrushes and toothpaste through February ★Encouraged peers to cast nearly 4,000 social media votes to win a travel scholarship contest ★Educated preschoolers, middle schoolers, and high school peers ★Ran oral health presentations in classrooms, community dental clinics, and health fairs ★Supported the “Wear Your Wings” campaign while fundraising ★Attended the Mid-Winter Meeting of the Chicago Dental Society with America’s ToothFairy ★Attended the 3rd Annual NCOHF Oral Health Zone Summit in Rock Hill, SC

Here’s What They Said: “The Special Education Department at Antelope Valley High School informed us that their students were having trouble with their oral health. We volunteered to go into their classroom and demonstrate how to properly brush and floss.” ~ Antelope Valley High School, Lancaster CA !“We collected oral care products for children and could not believe the generosity of our community. We helped a lot of children in our district who cannot afford to buy these items. The best part of the program was that it gave us the chance to educate our community on proper oral hygiene.” ~ Normandy High School, Parma OH !“We gave a series of presentations that focused on oral health: brushing, flossing, and foods/drinks that stain teeth and braces. Children received toothbrushes and coloring pages. We also made oral health posters and posted them around our school to promote what we learned." ~ Philip O. Berry Academy of Technology, Charlotte NC !“During outreach lessons at the Boys and Girls Club, we played the tooth fairy and delivered oral care supplies to children.” ~ O’Gorman- Sioux-Falls High School, Sioux Falls SD

!Smiles Matter with Boys & Girls Clubs

FY14 Recap

Mentoring Program: Boys and Girls Clubs participated in the Youth Mentoring Program component to the My Smile Matters Youth Movement. 602 Clubs received a total of 911 Oral Health Community Education Kits, as well as access to an online, password-protected portal with lessons and downloadable content. Club members used these resources to educate peers or younger children. !“One of our Clubs has been participating in the program and doing the 12 lessons; the kids seem to love it! They have been recording it in our Member tracking system weekly.” ~ Boys and Girls Clubs of Patterson and Passaic, Patterson NJ !"Wonderful program. Youth enjoyed the activities and materials!" ~ Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore, Baltimore MD !"The online lessons and youth activities guide were great resources that helped our Club incorporate oral health education across all of our sites." ~ Boys and Girls Clubs of Green Bay, Green Bay WI

Tomorrow’s SMILES: All participating Boys and Girls Clubs were invited to nominate teens for the Tomorrow’s SMILES Program, matching at-risk teens suffering from dental neglect with local dentists for pro-bono dental care. Boys and Girls Club teens that participated in Tomorrow’s SMILES agreed to “Pay-It-Forward" by acting as an oral health activities leader in their Club and educating Club members. !“Prior to finding out about the Tomorrow’s SMILES Program, one of our Club members who aspires to be a social worker feared that her smile would reflect poorly on her professional ability to help people lead productive and positive lives. With the help of a Tomorrow’s SMILES general dentist and orthodontist, the teen has already exhibited more self-confidence." ~ CPO and Tomorrow’s Smiles Sponsor, Boys and Girls Club of the Vineland, Vineland NJ !“We are delighted that the Tomorrow’s SMILES Program has provided an avenue for us to join hands with a team who shares the same vision of providing an opportunity to have a positive impact on teens’ self confidence through our dental services.” ~ Tomorrow’s SMILES Dentist, Smile Shoppe/Challengers Boys & Girls Club, Los Angeles CA

Smile Drive and Oral Care Product Donations: Boys and Girls Clubs were among the beneficiaries of oral care product donations collected at Walmarts across the country during the America’s ToothFairy Smile Drive in February 2014. NCOHF also matched Clubs with local high schools in order for Club members to received oral care education from students, along with oral care products as a leave-behind.

Recognition Opportunities & Incentives FY14 Recap

Travel Scholarships In FY14, NCOHF offered a total of 15 travel scholarships to the Chicago Dental Society’s Mid-Winter Meeting and to NCOHF’s OHZ Summit. To select students to attend the OHZ Summit, NCOHF ran a social media contest for high schools participating in the My Smile Matters Youth Movement. Over 4,000 votes were cast and tallied to select the winners. !At the OHZ Summit, students: ★Networked with dental health professionals from across North America ★Participated in a Youth Breakout Session and PSA Video Activity ★Learned about 3D printing technology and toured the 3D Systems Campus ★Educated children at the Discovery Place KIDS Museum about positive oral health habits ★Learned about and used NCOHF’s Oral Health Surveyor App, to measure effectiveness of oral

health education !“I really enjoyed the students’ service project to Discovery Place KIDS. It was great for both students and teachers to see how it works to have oral health education outside of a classroom or school environment.” ~ Teacher/Summit Attendee !“The Summit was a great opportunity to meet wonderful people from around the country that have the same interests as me. I loved sharing my creativity with them during our breakout session’s PSA video activity.” ~ Student/Summit Attendee

My Smile Matters Youth Awards NCOHF recognized eight outstanding young individuals with a My Smile Matters Youth Award for their commitment to children’s oral health education, advocacy, and awareness. The actions of these young community members prove that youth can be drivers of change for children’s oral health in their communities and across the country. !As part of the Youth Awards, each recipient selected a not-for-profit group participating in children’s oral health education and prevention to whom a $300 grant was made in the name of the respective recipient. Groups receiving grants included: ★Delta Dental Health Theatre, St. Louis MO ★Spring Lake Park FCCLA Chapter, Spring Lake Park MN ★Girl Scout Troop 1586, Louisville KY ★Boys and Girls Club of the Sioux Empire, Sioux Falls SD ★Valencia Park Community Center, Shreveport, LA ★Boys and Girls Club of the Imperial Valley, Brawley CA ★East Indiana AHEC, Batesville IN

!Patch Program Development

FY14 Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts Recap

Real-Life ToothFairy and SuperHero Squad Patch Programs: In FY14, NCOHF initiated partnerships with several Scout Councils across the country, including Girl Scouts Hornet's Nest Council (in Charlotte, NC), to provide Troops with educational materials. Throughout the year, Troops registered with NCOHF to participate in the My Smile Matters Youth Movement. One Troop was awarded a pizza party for their participation in oral health outreach; another Girl Scout was one of the eight My Smile Matters Youth Award Recipients. Girl Scouts and Boys Scouts across the country also participated in the America’s ToothFairy Smile Drive in February 2014. These Scouts collected oral care products to be distributed to children in their communities. !In response to feedback from these Troops, NCOHF developed two participation Patch Programs in late FY14: a Real-life ToothFairy Patch Program for Girl Scouts and a Super Hero Squad Patch Program for Boys Scouts. Both Programs require that Scouts deepen their understanding of oral health, raise community awareness of oral health, or connect with members of their community who work in the dental and public health space. The Patch Program is accessible to Scouts of all age groups. !The response to these Patch Programs has been overwhelming. In FY 15, NCOHF looks forward to providing patches to more than 750 Troops for over 15,000 Scouts across the country.

Hear from Scouts: “Great concept! Can't wait to share with the girls & get them excited about learning something new to pass on to younger Girl Scouts in our community! Thank you!” ~ Cadette Leader, FL !“Sounds like a great program! We are looking to branch out further into strengthening life skills, and this is one that is relevant to all age levels.” ~ Junior, Cadette, and Senior Leader, CA !"I am so glad I found this program. It is organizations like [America's ToothFairy] that help make Girl Scouts a fun and educational experience." ~ Junior Troop Leader, OH

Current State, August 2014 NCOHF Youth Programs

Kicking Off FY15 FY14 was a very strong development and growth year for NCOHF Youth Programs. As FY15 starts, the following groups are confirmed participants for the My Smile Matters Youth Movement, 2014-15 School Year:

470 HIGH SCHOOLS !

as Students United with America’s ToothFairy !

602 BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS !

as Youth Mentoring Participants !

756 SCOUT TROOPS !

as Real-Life ToothFairies and Super Hero Squad Members !!WHEN COMBINED, THIS AMOUNTS TO !

14,000 Teens 7,500 Scouts !

THE MY SMILE MATTERS YOUTH MOVEMENT !Reaching over 500,000 Children

And over 24,000 Parents !!