Since 2013 the faculty and students of the Dental Hygiene Department at Hudson Valley Community College have volunteered with New York State’s Special Olympics for their “Healthy Athletes” Program. “The Healthy Athletes program is dedicated to providing health services and education to Special Olympics athletes, and changing the way health systems interact with people with intellectual disabilities.” Over the past three years, faculty and students have helped to screen more than 1,000 athletes. This past year in Newburgh New York, athletes’ received interprofessional care with dental screenings, eye exams and blood pressure readings.
Our volunteers have traveled to north to Clifton Park and Queensbury as well as south to Newburgh to assist with this terrific program. Faculty and students both assisted in providing dental screenings that provided information as to the athletes oral care habits, missing or broken teeth as well as the potential need for athletic mouth guards for the athletes’ specific sport. These screenings were discussed with the athletes care givers and any recommendations were passed on to both the care giver as well as the Special Olympics Director to allow for follow up on any athletes that presented with a need for treatment. Students also manned the registration desk and assisted the athletes with their forms and paper work as well as providing oral self-care instructions on how to properly brush, floss and rinse their teeth daily.
This partnership allows Hudson Valley Community College Dental Hygiene the chance to give back within their community to help those people who otherwise may not be in a position to seek services. Access to Dental Care is a major topic within New York State, and every opportunity that our faculty and staff can help out, you will find us there.
30 Days of Giving 2016
- Day 1: Cortland Perspective on Poverty
- Day 2: Chef & Child at Erie Community College
- Day 3: Elder Care at SUNY Delhi
- Day 4: Be the Match at Morrisville
- Day 5: Food for Parking at Fulton-Montgomery Community College
- Day 6: Supporting Refugee Students at Buffalo State
- Day 7: Honoring a Historic Legacy With a Day Of Service at Old Westbury
- Day 8: Art in Vacant Spaces from Purchase College
- Day 9: Global Day of Service at Binghamton
- Day 10: Artistic Collaboration at Dutchess CC
- Day 11: Athletes Pitch In To Community Service at Cayuga CC
- Day 12: Feeding the Community at System Admin
- Day 13: Maritime Cadets Help Intrepid Museum
- Day 14: Filling an Empty Stocking at Empire State College
- Day 15: A Children's Christmas at Herkimer County Community College
- Day 16: Student Nurse Mentoring at Farmingdale State
- Day 17: Healthy Athletes Program at HVCC
- Day 18: Opening a Food Pantry at Oswego
- Day 19: Donating Books for Children at UAlbany
- Day 20: Arts & Crafts with Girls Inc. at Schenectady County Community College
- Day 21: Teddy Bear Toss at Geneseo
- Day 22: SUNY Canton Lending a Hand at St Mary's Church
- Day 23: Helping a Student in Need at Adirondack Community College
- Day 24: Alfred State Celebrates Service
- Day 25: Baby & Toddler Clothing Pantry at Monroe Community College
- Day 26: Adopt-A-Family at SUNY Orange County Community College
- Day 27: Free Dental Care for Veterans at UBuffalo
- Day 28: Fashion Design for Disabled Women at FIT
- Day 29: Care Packages for the Troops at Fredonia
- Day 30: A Spirit of Giving Throughout Ulster County Community College
- BONUS: Holiday Food Boxes at Rockland Community College
