Community Outreach and Community Service

In This Section

Community Service initiatives

Dentistry in the Community Grant
Week of Service

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is,
“what are you doing for others?”

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

What’s the difference between community outreach and community service?

Community outreach involves providing professional services, or services of a specific expertise, to a group of people who may not otherwise have access to those services. It is performed where those in need are located. (Example: providing dental services or education at a homeless shelter.)

Community service is work done for the benefit of the local community overall. Community service can be completed remotely. (Examples: hosting a clothing drive on campus, cleaning up trash from a park or beach.)

Many ASDA chapters actively participate in community outreach and community service events. Use these resources to help plan and implement programming at your own chapter. Be on the lookout for community-inspired posts on ASDA's social media and publications. Be sure to tag @dentalstudents and use #ASDAoutreach and/or #ASDAservice.

Community resources

Community Service how-to guide: A step-by-step guide to planning your chapter’s event.
Fundraising how-to guide: Suggestions and tactics to secure funding from outside organizations.
Template letter: Requesting administrative attendance at your community service event.
Recorded webinar, “How To Save The World…One Kid At A Time”, January 2019

Oral Health Instructional (OHI) Resources

Utilize these resources when educating members of your community on good oral hygiene.

OHI template scripts – use these to create an educational OHI video or skit
America’s Tooth Fairy – educational handouts, activity sheets and lesson plans
Smiles Smarts – lesson plans, activities and games for kids
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – oral health fast facts
Oral health instructional videos in various languages
American Dental Association educational video playlist
Academy of General Dentistry ABC’s of Oral Health

What ASDA members are saying

“The personal benefits of volunteering” Contour, September 2019
“Helping human trafficking victims in Houston” Contour, September 2019
Dentistry in the Community Grant recipients share outreach successes, ASDA Blog, January 2019
“Acting on our commitment to service” Contour, January 2019
Call to action: Making outreach a priority ASDA Blog, January 2019
The ‘tooth fairy’ of our underserved communities, ASDA Blog, August 2018
Serving the community through Mission of Mercy ASDA Blog, July 2018