In collaboration with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, the ADHA Institute for Oral Health provides thousands of dollars each year to advance the profession of Dental Hygiene through scholarship, research, and service. These monies have been awarded to dental hygiene students for educational needs (Scholarships), to those expanding the field of dental hygiene (Research Grants), and to dental hygienists to provide oral health care and education to those in their communities (Community Service Grants).
Our Mission
To Support the charitable educational, research, and scientific endeavors of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) which will improve the public’s total health by increasing the awareness of and access to quality oral healthcare
We work to:
- Empower dental hygienists to improve the public’s health through Community Service Grants
- Support advancements in the dental hygiene profession through Research Grants
- Develop dental hygienists’ access to educational programs through Scholarships
Our Vision
To advance the profession of dental hygiene and expand access to oral care.
History
1957: Originally founded as the Educational Trust Fund (ETF), the Institute for Oral Health was designed as a charitable organization entrusted with the mission of developing programs for the advancement of the art and science of dental hygiene
1978: The ETF was renamed the ADHA Foundation under a new tax status to provide activities and programs such as research.
1985: The Board of ADHA realized that a new organization with a broader scope was necessary to carry out its charitable, educational, and scientific endeavors. The results were the establishment and incorporation of the ADHA Institute for Oral Health.
1986: The Institute was incorporated as a support organization of ADHA so that a comprehensive scope of programming designed to advance the dental hygiene profession by promoting valuable research in the field and supporting dental hygiene students to excel.
1991: We embarked on a bold initiative, to establish a research endowment. The successful $150,000 campaign greatly expanded the Research Grant Program.
Today, the leadership of the ADHA Institute is a five-member Board of Directors. The Board is composed of ADHA Officers, and dental hygienists who have demonstrated competence in business and academia. The Immediate Past President of ADHA also serves as Chair of the ADHA Institute for one year. Standing committees, established to address the business of the ADHA Institute, support the Chairperson.