California Dental Association's Smile Crew CA program putting Californians back to work

SACRAMENTO Calif., Feb. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The California Dental Association is pleased to announce the expansion of its Smile Crew CA pilot programs that offer free dental assistant training and job matching with available positions. The program launched in San Francisco and expanded to San Diego to create job opportunities for people who were displaced by the pandemic or are interested in pursuing a new career that is in high demand.

Smile Crew CA has provided nearly 80 participants with the opportunity to learn basic skills for a dental assisting career, including dental terminology, HIPAA compliance and infection control protocols, as well as obtain certifications required for dental assisting. After the four-week "bootcamp" sessions, most participants were successfully placed in positions or are completing their externships prior to placement.

"The Smile Crew CA program is successfully providing new career opportunities for people who may have lost their jobs during the pandemic, while addressing the need for trained dental assistants to serve the oral health care needs of Californians," said Dr. Judee Tippett-Whyte, past president of the California Dental Association. "CDA created this program to address the statewide shortage of dental assistants and continue our strong commitment to increasing access to care and supporting dentists and dental team members in their service to the public through innovation in education."

In addition to funding from CDA, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency worked with CDA to identify public/private funding to expand dental assistant training to areas of greatest need, resulting in a significant grant from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation.

"Delta Dental Community Care Foundation is pleased to support Smile Crew CA that helps people impacted by the pandemic pursue a path to meaningful careers in the dental field," said Kenzie Ferguson, vice president of foundation and corporate social responsibility for Delta Dental of California. "Not only is this beneficial program getting residents of California back to work, it also honors the Foundation's mission of improving access to oral health, supporting oral health education and uplifting the communities we serve. It's win, win, win."

The Smile Crew CA program is particularly timely as the pandemic recovery has opened opportunities for Californians to seek new job training. CDA is working with the labor agency to expand the scale of training.

"The Smile Crew CA pilot program is an exciting model of what can be accomplished when industry, government and community work together to create new career pathways into solid jobs in dental care," said Abby Snay, deputy secretary for the Future of Work with the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

To learn more about dental assistant training, visit Smile Crew CA.

About the California Dental Association
The California Dental Association is the nonprofit organization representing organized dentistry in California. Founded in 1870, CDA is committed to the success of members in service to their patients and the public. CDA also contributes to the oral health of Californians through various comprehensive programs and advocacy. CDA's membership consists of more than 27,000 dentists, making it the largest constituent of the American Dental Association. For more information, visit cda.org.

About the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation
The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation partners with local communities to increase access to care, support dental education and fund research that advances the oral health field. Since 2011, the Foundation has awarded more than $70 million across 15 states and the District of Columbia. The Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of California and its affiliated companies, including Delta Dental Insurance Company, Delta Dental of Pennsylvania and Delta Dental of New York, Inc.

Media Contact

Alicia Malaby, California Dental Association, 916-554-5372, [email protected]

Tom Sarris, Delta Dental of California, 415-974-7006, [email protected]

SOURCE California Dental Association