Permanently designates the first Friday in February as "Give Kids a Smile Day" in New Jersey.

AJR183

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 183

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MAY 14, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Permanently designates first Friday in February as
�Give Kids a Smile Day� in New Jersey.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution
permanently designating the
first Friday in February as �Give Kids A Smile Day� in New Jersey.

Whereas,

Tooth decay is the number one chronic infectious disease among children in the
United States., affecting 42 percent of children aged 2 to 11 years old; and

Whereas,

Tooth decay is four times more common than asthma among adolescents aged 14 to
17 years; and

Whereas,

The impact of untreated tooth decay goes far beyond oral health.� Children with
untreated decay and associated toothaches have more school absences, cannot pay
attention in school or keep up with their peers academically, and have lower
standardized test scores; and

Whereas,

In 2002, Doctors. Jeff Dalin and B. Ray Storm held the first Give Kids A Smile�
(GKAS) event in a dental clinic in St. Louis, Missouri.� At that event, nearly
400 children received free dental care; and

Whereas,

The American Dental Association recognized that this grassroots effort had the
potential to raise national awareness about the importance of oral health to
overall health and the staggering need that exists among millions of children
who go without dental care; and

Whereas,

In 2003, GKAS evolved into a nationwide program and became the American Dental
Association�s signature access to oral health care program for underserved
children; and

Whereas,

As a result of the program, thousands of dentists and volunteers provide free
oral health education, screenings, and treatment to children who often do not
receive the appropriate dental care; and

Whereas,

The objectives of GKAS are to: provide oral health education to underserved
children and their families throughout the country; provide care and find
dental homes for as many underserved children as possible; and raise awareness
among the public and policymakers that the lack of access to dental care is a
serious problem for many children in the United States; and

Whereas,

In the 15 years since the first GKAS event, nearly 5.5 million children have
been provided dental care by more than 500,000 volunteers including dentists,
dental hygienists, dental assistants dental technicians, dental students,
teachers, parents, school nurses, and community health professionals; and

Whereas,

Since its inception, GKAS events have occurred in all 50 states, providing
services from oral health education to clinical treatment to underserved
children and their families; and

Whereas,

Every year, for the past 14 years, Rowan College at Burlington County�s dental
hygiene program hosts a GKAS event for children 12 years of age and younger;
and

Whereas,

The event has helped more than 2,000 children receive free preventive and
emergency dental care, including cleanings, fillings, x-rays, and teeth
extractions; and

Whereas,

The GKAS program is an opportunity to educate families on the importance of
oral health care, improve the health of communities by connecting underserved
children and their families with dentists, and raise public awareness about the
lack of access to dental care in this country and the need to provide oral
health care to children in underserved communities; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� The first Friday in
February shall be permanently designated as �Give Kids A Smile Day� in the
State of New Jersey in order to educate families on the importance of oral
health care, improve the health of communities by connecting underserved
children and their families with dentists, and raise public awareness about the
lack of access to dental care in this country and the need to provide oral
health care to children in underserved communities.

���� 2.��� The Governor is
respectively requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing the first
Friday in February as �Give Kids A Smile Day� and calling upon public officials
and the citizens of this State to observe the month with appropriate activities
and programs.

���� 3.��� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This joint resolution
permanently designates the first Friday in February as �Give Kids A Smile Day�
in New Jersey in order to educate families on the importance of oral health
care, improve the health of communities by connecting underserved children and
their families with dentists, and raise public awareness about the lack of
access to dental care in this country and the need to provide oral health care
to children in underserved communities.