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Profile of ADHA
Overview
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) was
formed in 1923 to develop communication and mutual cooperation among
dental hygienists. Today, ADHA is the largest national organization
representing the professional interests of the more than 100,000
registered dental hygienists (RDHs) in the United States.
Mission
Statement
To improve the public’s total health,
the mission of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association is to
advance the art and science of dental hygiene by increasing the
awareness of and ensuring access to quality, cost-effective oral health
care; promoting the highest standards of dental hygiene education,
licensure, practice, and research; and representing and promoting the
interests of dental hygienists.
Organization
Structure
ADHA is structured on three levels:
-
Component
ADHA’s 375 local dental hygiene associations are known as
component organizations. They form the first line of involvement for
individual members. The components implement community service
programs, educational sessions, and offer ideas and information
about state and national policies.
- Constituent
This is the state dental hygiene association. The constituent
organizations serve the components in their jurisdictions by
informing them of national policies and programs, and monitoring
legislation.
- National
This level represents the interests of all dental hygienists and
provides educational and professional development programming. It is
comprised of 12 geographic districts, each of which represents a
group of constituents. The national organization receives input from
the constituent and components through elected district trustees.
The trustees, president, president-elect, vice-president, treasurer, and
immediate past president make up the board of trustees--the
administrative body charged with conducting all national association
business.
National
Headquarters Structure
Located in Chicago, ADHA’s national headquarters is
organized into the following divisions, all of which report to the
executive director, who works out of the executive office.
-
Executive
Office
Works closely with the ADHA Board of Trustees, councils, and
committees. Coordinates the association’s annual meetings; houses
the ADHA Institute for Oral Health; manages fundraising and
corporate relations; and maintains liaison activities with other
allied health organizations.
-
Member
Services
Maintains membership records and communicates with members,
potential members, constituents, and components on all aspects of
membership.
-
Professional
Development
Promotes the development of the dental hygiene profession; provides
resource support through conferences, education, and research; and
interacts with other health professions and consumer groups.
-
Governmental
Affairs
Monitors legislation; works with state legislative chairs; provides
information on issues related to legislation and dental hygiene
practice; promotes ADHA interests before Congress; monitors federal
activities; and administers funds granted for state activities.
-
Communications
Implements ADHA’s public relations programs; also publishes the Journal
of Dental Hygiene, the official scientific journal of ADHA, and Access,
a professional magazine that addresses practice, legislative, and
lifestyle issues. Also responsible for managing ADHA Online.
-
Finance and
Management Information Systems
Oversees association assets and audits; maintains accounting
records; manages data processing and the product order department.
Taken with permission from the ADHA web site at
http://www.adha.org/aboutadha/profile.htm |
Tennessee Dental Hygienists' Association
