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OHRC Celebrates 30 Years of Service to the MCH Community
Please join us in congratulating the Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) in celebrating 30 years of incredible work! ASTDD is proud to partner, collaborate, and support the impactful work of OHRC and their amazing staff.
Read more about their history, accomplishments, ongoing activities, and how you can get involved!
Spotlighted Resources from the OHRC Library
Check out the October 2026 Spotlighted Resources from the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center. These highlighted resources are developed by federal and state agencies and organizations. Read more.
CHC Integration Oral Health as Part of Comprehensive Primary Care
A recent report produced by the National Association of Community Health Center (NACHC) highlights the role of community health centers (CHCs) in delivering integrated oral health care and primary care and outlines key federal legislative actions needed to support and expand this care. It explains CHCs’ role in providing integrated oral health care and primary care to families and individuals with low incomes, as well as in supporting the oral health workforce. It also discusses ways that workforce shortages could affect CHCs’ ability to provide care. Read more.
Head Start Proposal Rule: Over 500 Organizations Signed On!
Over 500 national, state, tribal, and local organizations signed onto a letter urging the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) to withdraw its proposed rule that would eliminate approximately 90% of the Head Start Performance Standards, including requirements related to children's access to dental care and other essential health services.
There were over 40,000 public comments submitted.
What's next?
The Together for Head Start campaign recently hosted a webinar, Beyond the Comment Period: What's Next for the Proposed Head Start Changes? You can watch the recording here for an overview of what to expect following the close of the comment period.
The campaign is also monitoring an additional Head Start-related proposed rule currently under review at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). We will continue sharing relevant updates and opportunities for member engagement as more information becomes available.
In the meantime, you can sign up for Together for Head Start's email updates and action alerts to stay informed.
ADS Infection Control In Practice
The Association for Dental Safety (ADS) October 2026 Infection Control In Practice in here. This bi-monthly publication is designed as an interactive resource for staff meetings, team discussions, and other group activities. Its user-friendly format helps guide your team through real-world applications of infection control and prevention, reinforcing key concepts with clear summaries and actionable takeaways.
It includes:
- Practical content: a bridge between policies and clinical practice.
- Workplace scenarios: problem-solving analysis and strategies.
- Everyday and everyway resources: charts, checklists, how-to ideas.
- Referenced content: grounded in science, best practices, peer-reviewed.
- Engaged learning: interactive videos, photo quizzes, links to resources.
- CE credit: Each issue is worth 1 ADA CERP CE Credit.
ADS members can view the publication for free. Non-ADS Members can purchase the report for $20.
Take a short survey by November 6 to help shape future issues of this newsletter.
CDC's Antimicrobial Resistance Threats Report
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), also known as drug resistance, is an urgent global public health threat. AMR happens when pathogens (germs) like bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them, resulting in infections that can be difficult or impossible to treat. If antibiotics and antifungals lose their effectiveness, then we lose the ability to treat infections and control public health threats.
CDC’s latest Antimicrobial Resistance Threats Report provides burden estimates for a list of bacterial and fungal pathogens categorized by level of threat to human health in the United States - urgent, serious, and concerning—and the overall domestic burden estimate for these threats. In addition, the report includes a Watch List of pathogens whose full burden is not yet understood in the United States. These pathogens are being monitored and may be included as urgent, serious, or concerning threats in the future.
Read more.
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine Launches National Online Resource to Support Caregivers
The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, with support from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, has launched a Caregiver Dental Hub, the first university-affiliated national resource dedicated to supporting caregivers who provide daily oral care for individuals with disabilities.
CaregiverDentalHub.org offers instructional videos, caregiver stories, expert demonstrations, and practical resources on topics such as choosing oral health products, preventing tooth decay, making healthier food choices, communicating with dental professionals, safe positioning techniques, and reducing stress during daily brushing and mouth care routines.
Visitors to the site learn directly from dentists, dental hygienists, caregivers, and other professionals through real-world demonstrations and conversations designed to answer common caregiver questions. Another feature of CaregiverDentalHub.org is its directory of disability-friendly dentists experienced in treating patients who may need special accommodations.
ADA Community Dental Health Coordinator Program (CDHC) is Now Available Online
The American Dental Association's (ADA) Community Dental Health Coordinator Program (CDHC) is now available at a cost. Those interested can now go directly to the ADA and take the fully online, asynchronous course. With updated content, the program guides clinical team members through education aligned with community health worker skills. Read more.
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