Give Kids A Smile Program to Provide Free Dental Care for Hundreds of Children in Essex CountyGive Kids A Smile Dental Clinic Underscores Critical Need in State

Newark, New Jersey February, 2020 — Newark Community Health Centers, Inc. will be sponsoring their annual Give Kids A Smile® event on Friday February 7th, 2020 at five of our six locations to provide underserved children with free dental services. Nearly one in four children under the age of five already has cavities, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many children enrolled in Medicaid receive no dental services throughout the year. This year NCHC acquired grant funding from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey through its foundation. The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey’s Kids Oral Health Program shares the same standards as the Give Kids A Smile Program and is a generous partner that has contributed $62,500 to support NCHC in these efforts. Give Kids A Smile is held annually to:

• Provide free, easily accessible dental services to qualifying individuals.

• Raise awareness of the epidemic of untreated dental disease occurring locally and nationally and create local public and private partnerships to increase access to oral health care to solve this crisis.

Newark Community Health Centers, Inc. (NCHC) offers high quality dental care at five of its facilities in Essex County. The Centers make it possible for the uninsured, the homeless, and others in need to get their teeth cleaned, cavities filled, and other basic oral care. They also deliver much-needed specialty services, including care for acute infections, restorative procedures, surgery, and treatment of HIV positive patients. Research shows that kids with poor oral health are nearly three times more likely to miss school and about four times more likely to earn below-average grades. The consequences of poor oral health can impact a child’s ability to eat, sleep, and learn. This year, NCHC hopes to provide an even greater number of underserved children with exams, caries assessment and hygiene instruction during Give Kids A Smile Day. Give Kids A Smile Day is a wonderful opportunity to get involved and help underserved children learn about the importance of dental health, receive an oral examination by a licensed dentist and referral for treatment when necessary. We gave away free toothbrushes, toothpaste and more! This year’s event will be held at five of our locations; NCHC Locations: 741 Broadway, Newark 101 Ludlow St., Newark 92 Ferry St., Newark 444 William St., East Orange 1150 Springfield Ave., Irvington For more information about Give Kids A Smile events, visit www.adafoundation.org/givekidsasmile. To learn more about proposed solutions to the dental crisis, visit WWW.NCHCFQHC.org and www.ADA.org/action.

The NJ State Department of Health came to visit NCHC! (from left to right): Dr. Pamela Clarke (CEO of NCHC), Denise Anderson (Managing Director of the Office of Primary Care and Rural Health Program), Nashon Hornsby (Assistant Commissioner of Community Health Services), Alexandria Massey (NCHC-Chief Nursing & Compliance Officer), Dr. Darwin Hayes (State Dental Director), Dr. Chidi Achebe (NCHC-Director of Pediatrics/Interim Chief Medical Officer), Geraldine Stephens (NCHC-Director of Nursing)

From left to right: Ms. Temi Boyo (NCHC Board Member), Dr. Shereef Elnahal (NJ DOH Commissioner), Newark Council President Mildred Crump Dr. Omar Bey (NCHC Board Chair), First Lady Tammy Murphy, Keri Logosso (Greater Newark Health Care Coalition Executive Director), Dr. Pamela Clarke (President and CEO NCHC), Dr. Adrienne Headley (CMO NCHC), Ms. Jillian Hudspeth (NJPCA President), Dr. Tanya Pagan Raggio-Ashley (HRSA), Ms. Shirley Smith (HRSA)

  Newark Community Health Centers (NCHC) hosted its 3rd Annual Women’s Health Symposium on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. NCHC serves as a resource for the medically underserved residents of our service area and the community-at-large irrespective of patient legal status and/or ability to pay. In a holistic shift from general healthcare, NCHC places emphasis on health care services delivery which promotes overall wellness. As part of that mission, NCHC remains committed to clinical excellence and education in women’s health. The theme for the Symposium was Empty Arms, Empty Cribs: Challenges in Maternal & Infant Mortality Disparities. Through presentations and panel discussions, the Symposium addressed topics in health disparities and infant and maternal mortality.

New Jersey First Lady Tammy Snyder Murphy spoke at the NCHC Symposium on May 16th, furthering her commitment to the issue of maternal health. The First Lady noted that, despite New Jersey’s strong and diverse healthcare network, our state ranks 47th in maternal mortality rates. A black infant is nearly three times more likely to die than a white infant, and black mothers are five times more likely to die from maternity-related complications than white mothers. To tackle this racial disparity, we need to address the social determinants of health that have exacerbated this gap—pay equity, access to care, housing, and more—and thankfully, Governor Murphy and his administration have shown dedication to improving all women’s health from the start. From restoring $7.5 million in funding to Family Planning Clinics to removing restrictions on Long-Acting Reversible Contraception after birth, the Governor has made women a priority in New Jersey. The New Jersey Department of Health is also rolling out their Healthy Women, Healthy Families initiative which seeks to help community-based programs improve and provide quality access to perinatal care and reduce health disparities, especially black infant mortality. These comprehensive solutions are a start in eliminating the gap, and forums like the Newark Community Health Center’s Women’s Health Symposium are necessary in breaking down the walls that have kept information from the broader community.

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