I mentioned last time about the redefining of our work. This approach can transform all we do and help us measure true change. A key element of change theory is the re-framing of the issue.
Consider Poverty. I’ve been struck over the years, by so many people who reminisce about being poor and the level of dignity, character, tradition, ethic and appreciation it brought to their lives. They would remember how families and neighbors grew strong, and how a sense of community made life and relationships rich and rewarding. How many times have you heard: “we were poor, but as kids, we never knew we were poor...” ?
Today, “poverty” is our blanket term that, I believe, causes us some confusion...with an inherent judgment of poverty being bad, something to eradicate...and feeds into how we stereotype people, and shortchanges our creativity as we try to resolve the serious challenges faced by so many in our community.
Hunger is bad; homelessness is bad; violence and discrimination are bad; unemployment is bad; lack of affordable health care is bad; food deserts are bad. All these should be eradicated. All these should demand our vigilant attention and safety net resources.
Yet, wouldn’t we benefit from celebrating some of the characteristics that are present within poverty?: Agility, innovation, resilience, empathy, community, stamina, humility, connection with the land, creative play, thrift, values....and so much more. All these are things I have heard many parents say—would be helpful as their children face a consumption-driven, self-centered and entitled society.
Minnesota has spent decades trying to reduce poverty. It’s no wonder we spin our wheels. Let’s shift our thinking. It may spark some fresh input into a very old conversation.
I went to a leadership presentation a while back, where great minds helped those of us in the nonprofit sector frame our work. We always hope we can, someday, work ourselves out of a job. For if a civilized society could, indeed, provide the care, amenities and infrastructure necessary to have healthy people, living interesting and fulfilling lives, in communities of quality—our charitable services would not be needed.
At the same time, we recognize the brutal realities that there are many things to be done, to assure a quality of life for all. The best advice I heard—to remember that we cannot see ourselves here as ‘solving problems’....and that once we succeed we are no longer needed. Rather, suggests our speaker, we must see ourselves as continually working on dilemmas that will likely always exist in our society. To seek ‘solutions’ is to set ourselves up for disappointment and burn out. To know we must always chip away at the dilemmas we, and our patients face, we can then feel incremental progress with each new approach. Each small success feeds and nurtures our will and passion to continue.
I like this. It aligns with our core value of abundance....knowing that there is enough to go around, enough to make a difference, if we work together to leverage, share, and collaborate. If we believe in scarcity, that there is never enough to go around—there will never be enough to go around. To think we must solve a problem, is to fail before we begin...but we can work together to dismantle a dilemma and take it piece by piece to affect change—we can succeed every day.
I mentioned last time about the redefining of our work. This approach can transform all we do and help us measure true change. A key element of change theory is the re-framing of the issue.
Poverty
Prevention
 It’s membership month for our local Community Resource Connections. This council of nonprofit organizations has been serving area nonprofits, government agencies and individuals for decades—connecting people with the services that can address barriers and improve quality of life. Membership in this important organization is only $25; mainly because it’s less about the money, and more about bringing together a broad base of voices and services throughout the region. Together, we can improve communication across agencies, leverage resources collectively to fill gaps in services, and build awareness about the importance of the nonprofit sector. Northern Dental Access Center is a nonprofit organization, and all our patients have benefited from our membership and partnership with Community Resource Connections. On site here, CRC staff provide insurance counseling, eligibility screening, information and referral for other community services, patient advocacy and much more. More than 40 agencies are actively engaged in CRC networking, collaboration and marketing initiatives. Join now so you don’t miss out on these benefits of membership:
- Facilitated networking meetings for your staff: a place to introduce new staff and learn about others’ programming
- Facilitated networking meetings for Nonprofit Directors: meet other directors and exchange ideas
- Reduced costs for CRC developed publications such as CRC’s Resource Directory
- Complimentary use of the Blackduck Resource Center for nonprofit service activity
- Marketing/outreach to residents of Northern Beltrami County
- Coordination of collaborative outreach activities (Fair Exhibit/Kelliher Health Fair)
- A centralized site for receiving & distributing community donations: membership places you on the e-mail list so that you get notices when businesses or the public is giving away quality items your agency needs
- Free E-mail forwarding and web posting of your agency happenings (i.e. upcoming events, fundraisers)
- The benefits of NAIER Membership (low cost office products)
- Assistance with program evaluation activities (i.e. focus groups, client surveying)
- An agency link from the CRC web page
- Shared access to MCN’s most sought after publications (i.e. salary survey report)
- Notification of MCN workshops and alerts (if you are not an MCN member)
- A coupon for $25 off of an MCN membership
- A collective voice of nonprofits impacting local, state and national policies
To join, or learn more, go to their website www.CRCinform.org
Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Here at Northern Dental Access Center, it's children's dental health month every month! But it's a great reminder for us to repeat the message that developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
It's important that every child have a dental home and regular interation with a dentist; if a child doesn't get to a dentist until he or she is in pain -- then every dental experience is likely to be filled with anxiety or avoided altogether -- starting a pattern that can lead to a lifetime of pain, disease and tooth loss.
As early as one year old, we can help a child feel comfortable with sitting in a dental chair, and over time, they can have dental exams be as ordinary as a haircut. As children grow, we want to help them understand the importance of good oral health habits, educate them about mouth guards and the effects of what they eat. We even talk about body piercings and tabacco use that can affect the health of a child or teen's mouth.
Do your part to get a child to the dentist. A healthy smile can give that child confidence and self esteem. And it's never too late... make sure you make your own appointment, as well!
Hello and welcome to this new technological adventure—a blog from the Director. There are so many great things happening here at Northern Dental Access Center so we hope to use this platform to stay in touch with our community, stakeholders and patients.
Our mission is to provide access to a dental home for those in need. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists defines a dental home as “a place where oral health care is managed in a comprehensive, continuously accessible, coordinated and family-centered way.” To that end, we are pleased to announce all new Family Health Services.
Since its inception, Northern Dental Access Center has been designed to provide a variety of services for patients...to serve “more than the mouth.” We have known for a long time that a person’s oral health is directly linked to their overall health, and to their personal circumstances that can either help or hinder access to care.
Recent community planning efforts surrounding the development of a possible community health center confirmed that patients will benefit if they can receive multiple services in one location, and get assistance in maneuvering through the health system.
We are pleased to announce the hiring of Carol Kelly, a registered nurse who is here in our new Family Health Services Center. Now available to patients and the general public (who meet income eligibility guidelines) are the following services:
· Smoking Cessation Support
· Blood Pressure Checks
· Chronic Disease Information and Referral
· Medication Review and Assistance
· Mental Health Screening and Referral
· Chemical Use Assessments
· Teen Wellness Checks (Ages 12-20)
· General Medical Questions
· Primary Care Referrals
And coming soon:
· Rapid HIV Screening
· Rapid Hep-C Screening
· Glucose Checks
Add these to the many other support services available here at Northern Dental Access Center, and we are well on our way to achieving our goal of reducing barriers to care and offering a true dental home.
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