The Foundation is now accepting applications, due 10 August 2019, for the 2020 GKAS awards.
The GKAS Award recognizes an organization’s ability to build, expand or enhance education, access and/or capacity with respect to oral health care for children.
 
Winning applicants will receive up to $5,000, as determined by the NYSDF Board of Trustees. Winners will be announced at the end of the year.
 
Nominated community health centers or service programs must answer the following questions:
 

• How is your organization setting higher standards of oral health care and quality to better meet the challenges of the future?
• How are you driving innovation in oral health care deliver?
• How is your program improving oral health outcomes within our communities?
• What are you doing to move New York State in new directions to meet the oral health care needs of children?
• How does your program target education, screening and prevention, and access?
• How does your programming expand current capacity?

 
Nominators must complete the attached form, which includes a written statement and letters of support from a local public health organization.
 
All nominations must include a written statement of no more than one page detailing why the nominee should receive the award, including an explanation of HOW the nominee meets the criteria to merit recognition and HOW the nominee will use any GKAS Award funding.
 
All nominations must include a statement indicating why the nominator has chosen to seek award funding from the New York State Dental Foundation.
 
Once-a-year activities are NOT eligible for GKAS Award consideration.
 
All GKAS Award recipients MUST include NYS Dental Foundation logo and references in all promotional and press materials related to the activities for which they are receiving the GKAS Award. 

Click here for forms.

​Did you know that the major cause of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), the Human Papilloma Virus type 16 and 18, are included in the HPV vaccine? HPV causes about 70% of current cases of head and neck cancer.  While oropharyngeal cancer screening is essential don’t’ miss an opportunity to prevent oropharyngeal cancer in your patients. The New York State Dental Foundation and NYSDA have partnered with the NYS HPV Coalition to increase awareness about the HPV vaccine to prevent oral cancer.
 
Let parents know that you strongly support HPV vaccination as prevention of cancer.  The vaccine gives the best immune response when given before the 13th birthday for both boys and girls but can be given to others as well.  There are more OPC cases than cervical cancer cases now. According to the CDC, each year there are 12,900 new cases of Oropharyngeal cancer and 10,800 new cervical cancer cases.  The reduction in cervical cancer is a result of the HPV immunization program for females beginning over a decade ago and within a short time we have the power to see similar results with OPC.
 
Make sure all staff in the office can answer questions about HPV vaccine with science based answers.  Refer to the patients primary care provider or the local health department.  By having primary care, dental care, and the health department work towards increasing the HPV vaccination rate, we will be able to prevent OPC’s well into the future.
 
For more information, click on the links below:
 
http://hpvroundtable.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DENTAL-Action-Guide-WEB.pdf
https://www.aap.org/en-us/Documents/AAP_OPC_HPV_5KeyPoints_final.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/index.html