We are honored and humbled to share that KinderSmile Foundation’s advocacy efforts are continuing to sprout!
After years of hard work and many sown seeds, Governor Murphy included KinderSmile Foundation in the FY2026 Appropriations Act for the second time, and we are grateful to have been heard.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to members of Governor Murphy’s Office and NJ legislation who listened to our presentations, heard the stories, and saw the photos of our own patients that we serve every single day. Thank you for understanding the importance of oral health as the gateway to total health and wellbeing. Thank you for seeing through our lenses the ongoing disparities in attaining equitable access to oral health care. And thank you for acknowledging the need for funding.We appreciate our Oral Health Champions who listened to us fight on behalf of our patients. Thank you to Jennifer Fearon, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor, and Sharon Alessi, Office of the State Treasurer, for inviting us to return and present again to your teams. Thank you to Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and Ed Gittens for the continued and steadfast support. Thank you to Assemblywoman Sumter, Senator McKnight, and the NJ Legislative Black Caucus for supporting our efforts of increasing access to oral health care for marginalized communities in our state. Senator Zwicker and Senator Cruz-Perez, thank you for inviting us to present to your offices and for supporting our request. Thank you to Assemblywoman McCoy and Assemblyman Verrelli for continuing to bring oral health to the forefront. Assemblywoman Morales, Assemblyman Venezia, and Senator Timberlake, thank you for your time and your passion, and for visiting our Dental Home with a joint resolution in honor of Black History Month! Thank you to Senator Burgess for presenting KinderSmile Foundation with a Ceremonial Resolution honoring our service and commitment to health equity. We truly appreciate all of you, and we look forward to our continued collaboration!
As a small nonprofit organization with a vision of a future where every child has access to a dentist and preventable dental diseases are eradicated, KinderSmile Foundation is leading in promoting Public Health Dentistry. We bridge the gap in access to oral health care by investing in patients holistically. Without per-patient state or federal funding, our sustainability relies on our village of private donors and grantors who enable us to continue to make an impact by offsetting the high costs of dental care and the low reimbursement rates from Medicaid MCOs.
The recognition of our perseverance serves as a testament to the impact we make in the community on a daily basis, at our three Dental Homes in Bloomfield, Newark, and Trenton, and through four community programs, a vast network of partnerships, mentorship opportunities, and workforce development initiatives.
We feel encouraged for the important work that lies ahead. With the forthcoming loss of Medicaid coverage for over 300,000 New Jersey residents, implications to NJ FamilyCare, and imminent uncertainties for providers and families alike, we vow to continue to be in the community and for the community, and to fight on behalf of our patients!
Please stay tuned. This is only the beginning. We look forward to continuing our advocacy efforts and making a long lasting change in the landscape of access to oral health care in New Jersey, and contributing to a positive return on investment for the state and the families.
Thank you to our village for your continued and unwavering support! We are forever grateful to our grantors, donors, and community partners. Thank YOU! Together, we will continue to raise awareness of the need to make oral health a priority. #ItTakesAVillageKSF
