GREATER FORT WORTH DENTAL HYGIENISTS
AND PARTICIPATING PARTNERS

…join us in making a difference in the lives of children at the Hispanic Wellness Fair

The Hispanic Wellness Fair (HWF), Saturday, August 2, 2008 (9 AM to 2 PM) is an event sponsored by the Hispanic Wellness Coalition with leadership from HISPA and the Public Health Department of Tarrant County. The fair provides free health care education and preventive services including immunizations for children, mammograms, blood pressure and cholesterol tests, diabetes (blood sugar) tests, bone density assessment, eye exams and many other health services for the more than 15,000 family members attending the fair. The Greater Fort Worth Dental Hygienists’ Society (GFWDHS) provides education and fluoride varnish applications (preventive dental services) as well as screening exams and referrals by a dentist for any children needing emergency treatment. With this project, we applied for the ‘06 Colgate / ADHA Community Outreach Award and Greater Fort Worth Dental Hygienists’ Society was one of the three recipients honored, nationwide.

We need your help and that of your friends, family and co-workers. We also need bilingual volunteers and help with the Friday set-up (4 - 6 PM) and Saturday takedown (2 - 3 PM). Come join us, sharing friendship and expertise all while giving back to our wonderful community! Thanks to all for giving of your time and talents as you make this event happen! With your help, my hope is that we can provide preventive oral health services for at least 500 children. This will do much in the name of “access to care” for the many children in need right here in our own back yard.

It's a month until the Hispanic Wellness Fair (HWF); this is what you need to know. Feel free to call or email us with any questions.
Thank you so much and hope to see you on August 2nd!

Jennifer Reimer, RDH
rushreimer2@yahoo.com
(817) 738-9501

Nancy Garnett, RDH
n.garnett@charter.net

Olive Felix, RDH
(817) 784-6645

Volunteers Needed!

To participate in any of our Oral Health Community Projects, download and print the Volunteer Form below and send to Olive Felix or Jennifer Reimer.

 
Download the application: Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word Document

On This Page
Below is just a sampling of the many activities that the members of Greater Fort Worth Dental Hygienists Society participated in over the last year. Opportunities are everywhere to educate the public and provide Professional Hygiene Services to the uninsured and underserved in our community. Please come join our efforts!

There are Dental Hygienists volunteering weekly at Mission Arlington's Allan Saxe Clinic, JPS Dental Health Arlington, and the JPS Michael Wherele Clinic that offers a free dental clinic for children of Tarrant County on Fridays.  For information about volunteering at these clinics and other community events contact:  Olive Felix at 817-784-6645 or Jennifer Reimer at 817-301-8144.

Ongoing Activities

Nancy Garnett, RDH, Jennifer Reimer, RDH, and Olive Felix, RDH have been attending the Children's Oral Health Coalition meeting at Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth.  Jennifer and Nancy serve on committees of the COCH.  They are also working with the Fort Worth Head Start Program to help get their funded fluoride varnish program operational by September 2007.  We also attend numerous other public health meeting to provide a dental prevention point of view to the uninformed.

Jennifer Reimer, RDH is implementing a preventive program modeled after Healthy Start for Texas Teeth, TDHA’s Fluoride Varnish initiative, for Head Start Programs in Tarrant County. Child Care Associates was awarded a federal “Oral Health Initiatives Grant” of which they are in year 3 of 5. Jennifer is educating Head Start staff, parents and children and calibrating Dentists for visual oral screenings and application of Fluoride Varnish to children enrolled in the program.

Recent Activities

February 11,  2007 - Pregnant teenagers - Jennifer Reimer, RDH, 120 toothbrushes and toothpaste, and shared other information to help pregnant girls in two Fort Worth high schools.  This program combines Fort Worth Public Health, WIC, and prenatal programs with good dental care

February 19, 2007 – Family Expo - We set up a table of educational information and distributed 180 toothbrush and toothpaste goodie bags at the Family Expo/Black History Month event at the Southwest campus of TCC

March 31, 2007 – TWU Career Day - GFWDHS participated in Texas Wesleyan University, "Expanding Your Horizons", event.  We presented two one-hour classes to 32 young women whom were interested in a career in the Dental Hygiene profession.  We gave brushing education classes with disclosing rinses, toothbrush goodie bags and educational information on dental preventative services performed by dental hygienists.

August 4, 2007 – Hispanic Wellness Fair

Held at Will Rogers in Fort Worth. Our Supervising DDS, RDH’s and Student Volunteers from Tarrant County College provided exams and applied Fluoride Varnish to 358 children. There were 67 referred to a dentist for urgent needs.

August 11, 2007 – Teen Fair

Our volunteers saw 38 people for a combined 8 prophylaxes and 38 sets of radiographs.

September 19, 2007 – Save Our Smiles

In coordination with TDA, TDHA participated in 4 locations across Texas. Jennifer Reimer, RDH represented Greater Fort Worth at the Dallas location along with Dental Hygiene Students from Tarrant County College. 250 sealants were placed that day!

October 6, 2007 – Sealants Across Texas

We staffed 3 clinics in Arlington, Euless and Fort Worth to provide free sealants and referrals to 86 children. Thanks to Drs. Kim Nelson, Erin Tran and William Meier and all the RDH’s and student volunteers from Tarrant County College and Texas Women’s University Dental Hygiene Programs!

Activities Over the Past Year

August 5, 2006 - Hispanic Wellness Fair, Ft. Worth, TX - Provided fluoride varnish, oral cancer screenings, puppet show, toothbrushes, information, and referrals to 407 participants