The Brighter Smiles program has been approved for renewed funding from the First Nations Health Authority in the amount of $120,800 each year for two years. Brighter Smiles is an innovative service-learning initiative which allows for Pediatric Residents, Pediatric Dental Residents, and Surgical Residents under the supervision of faculty, to partner with remote First Nations communities in support of advancing child health. The Brighter Smiles partnership began between the Gitga’at First Nation and the University of British Columbia and will now expand to include the Gitxaala and Lax Kw’alaams First Nations.
The main goals of this funding are to improve access to high-quality pediatric care for children and families, oral health delivery, and public health education in the schools. This partnership will also expand crucial opportunities for doctors and dentists in training to learn about and participate in culturally-responsive care within a remote First Nations setting.
As we embark on this new envelop of funding, we would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to Mr. Keith Henry, Mr. Paul Coppard, and Ms. Nicole Cross from FNHA for supporting the Brighter Smiles partnership. We would also like to thank the children, families, elders, school teachers, nursing station teams, and band councils in the Gitga’at, Gitxaala, and Lax Kw’alaams First Nations for their warm and encouraging support of the Brighter Smiles program.