Pittsburgh: Date and Time

Pittsburgh: Location

“Speaking Up for Community Water Fluoridation” is being offered in partnership with the American Fluoridation Society. Lunch will be provided. Continuing education credits are available.

The American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are among the many dental, medical and public health organizations that recommend community water fluoridation. When a community stops fluoridating its water, it undermines the oral health of children and adults. In recent years, several Pennsylvania communities have stopped. Dental and medical professionals can play a crucial role in advising local officials to make an informed decision. The successful vote in 2017 to fluoridate Meadville’s water supply is proof that health professionals can have a real impact.

Strengthen your ability to educate your community about oral health. Enhance your ability to educate your community by attending one of the two trainings planned for July. You will meet other health professionals and hear from experts in the science of fluoridation and how to communicate about it.

Meet the training presenters:

Johnny Johnson, DMD, MS, is a pediatric dentist from Pinellas County, Florida. He is also the co-founder and President of the American Fluoridation Society. Dr. Johnson has delivered presentations, training and testimony about fluoride in numerous states, as well as in Canada and the United Kingdom. Dr. Johnson’s leadership role in fluoridation advocacy began after his county commission voted to end fluoridation — a decision that was successfully reversed by a coalition of residents that Dr. Johnson helped to organize. Dr. Johnson was a key source of information for the reporters and editors who helped the Tampa Bay Times win a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the fluoridation issue. He received his dental training from the University of Florida, and he earned his Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and Masters of Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Matt Jacob, BA, is a former journalist who has worked for more than 20 years to help nonprofits and issue-based organizations raise their profile and communicate more effectively with the public and elected officials. In recent years, he has overseen communications for dental initiatives at the Pew Center on the States and the Children’s Dental Health Project. Mr. Jacob has given presentations on communicating effectively about oral health to a variety of audiences, including the National Academy of Medicine and the American Public Health Association. He has provided fluoride-related message training in nearly 20 states for more than 1,600 people. In 2014, HealthLiteracyMonth.org named Mr. Jacob one of its Health Literacy Heroes. He earned his B.A. in journalism from the University of Arkansas.

Please note there are two ways to participate: as a Team Member or as an Observer.Team Members will be asked to commit to fulfilling responsibilities to serve on the CWF Task Force, which includes being dispatched, sometimes on short notice, to attend and speak at public meetings where there are challenges to fluoridation in the region. Observers will have the same training as Team Members, but will have no obligation to serve on the Task Force.

*Original article online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pittsburgh-community-water-fluoridation-training-tickets-59193993829