GRANT00156

With guidance from a national oral health expert panel, NASN identified oral health resources to assist school nurses in delivering relevant oral health messages, increase their knowledgebase of prevention methods, and increase educational opportunities. The Smiles For Life curriculum was adopted as a key resource for giving school nurses a comprehensive understanding of oral health with continuing education credits. To support this campaign, NASN developed a website devoted to oral health information and resources and established the Oral Health Forum (listserv) for information sharing. This grant initiated NASN’s involvement in the National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health, strengthening collaboration between school nurses and other providers engaged in oral health. School nurses are a key component to the success of school-based health centers; this grant supports their role in promoting children’s oral health and oral disease prevention.