On Wednesday, August 10, the Fluoridation Spokesperson Training will be held at the Spring Student Center, Room 109 on the Erie Community College North Campus in Williamsville. The training will take place from 10:00AM-3:00PM. Attendees should arrive at 9:45 for sign-in so we can begin promptly at 10:00.

Instructors for the course are Meg Atwood, RDH, MPS, Associate Professor in the Department of Dental Hygiene at Orange County Community College, and Matt Jacob, BA, Director of Communication and Outreach, at the Children’s Dental Health Project in Washington, DC.

Dentists, registered dental hygienists, and others who have a vested interest in maintaining community water fluoridation, a vital public health resource, will learn how to be effective spokespersons by being prepared use “kitchen-table” language to discuss fluoridation. Attendees will learn how to dispel common misconceptions about fluodation and how to respond to tough or hostile questions from media, the general public, legislators, etc.

Given the current headlines from around the country about drinking water’s safety and the US Dept. of Health and Human Services’ recent recommendation to lower the amount of fluoride in the water supply to 0.7 parts per million, this training may be especially important and timely.

In addition to the in-person training, attendees will be sent a link to a pre-recorded webinar on the science and myths behind fluoridation created by Erin Knoerl, MPH, of New York State’s Bureau of Child Health.

Dental professionals will receive 5 CE lecture credits from the training.

Dentists, registered dental hygienists, water system representatives, pediatricians, other medical professionals, local health departments, and individuals with a vested interest in maintaining and expanding community water fluoridation throughout the state are welcome to attend.

Co-Sponsored by:
New York State Dental Foundation
20 Corporate Woods Blvd., Suite 602
Albany, NY 12211

and

Department of Dental Hygiene
Erie Community College
6205 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221

Made possible through a grant from the NYS Department of Health, the Health Research Institute, and the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Directions and parking instructions will be emailed to you at a later date.

Please contact Mercedes Susi with any questions: MSusi@nysdental.org