Background Checks
The Health Care Professional Responsibility and Reporting Enhancement Act requires that a criminal history record background check must be conducted for all health care professionals licensed or certified by the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Letters will be going out to all Active licensees to their address on record
with the Board. If NJDHA members are concerned that their address may not
be up-to-date they can go online and perform a "licensee search" which will
show the city, state and zip code of the address on file. If their address
is not accurate they can use the online Change of Address Form at the Board of Dentistry website to change it.

Beginning in April 2008, all actively licensed Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Registered Dental Assistants and Limited Registered Ortho Assistants who have never gone through a criminal history record background check for the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, will begin the background check process.

"New" licenses (those issued in the past 4 or 5 years) who have already gone
through the process with Sagem Morpho will NOT have to repeat it as their
background check is already on file. The same holds true for those who may
hold another license from the Division of Consumer Affairs. Those who have
gone through criminal background checks for employment purposes (i.e.
working is schools) WILL need to go through this again.

The background check process includes the following steps:

Step 1. A letter is sent to the licensee along with a Certification and Authorization form.

Step 2. The Certification and Authorization form must be completed and sent back to the Health Care Reporting Unit, P.O. Box 46019, Newark, NJ 07101.

Step 3. Once the Health Care Reporting Unit receives the completed Certification and Authorization form, a universal form and letter explaining how to proceed with the fingerprinting process will be mailed to the licensee.

Step 4. The licensee schedules an appointment to be fingerprinted by Sagem Morpho, Inc., the vendor under contract with New Jersey for digital fingerprinting, and assumes responsibility for the fee for the entire background check process.

Step 5. The licensee’s fingerprints are electronically forwarded to the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and SBI (State Bureau of Investigation) to conduct the criminal history background check.

If a licensee chooses not to go through the background check process, he or she will not be able to keep his or her license in an active status. If a licensee is in inactive status, he or she is not required to undergo a criminal history background check. However, in order to reactivate his or her license, the licensee will be required to undergo a criminal history background check.

For those that may have a criminal record which was not previously disclosed
to the Board of Dentistry, they will want to organize any records they have
regarding the incident. The initial form has space to report any previous
records and supporting documentation can be sent with this form. The Board
of Dentistry will review new records and, depending on the nature of the
incident, may ask for additional information.

Please visit to view our Frequently Asked Questions regarding the entire criminal history background check process. You can also e-mail the Division at S1804@dca.lps.state.nj.us with any questions or concerns you may have about the criminal history background check process.

It’s time to start thinking about NJDHA Awards for 2008!
NJDHA offers several awards for Outstanding Members. Is the person next to you an Outstanding Member of NJDHA? Take the time to review the qualifications below and nominate someone who deserves recognition. Leadership should be rewarded!

The Monmouth County Cancer Coalition will be having an Oral Cancer Initiative from April 24th - May 1st by providing oral cancer screenings throughout the county. Any RDH's who would like to participate in the event may contact Jodie Heim at JHeim20640@aol.com for further information.

The NJ Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer Workgroup will be having an oral cancer awareness day the state house in Trenton on Thursday, June 12th. Tentatively scheduled from 9-3. If you can't stay the entire time, 3 hours would be great! Please contact Jodie Heim at JHeim20640@aol.com if you would like to participate. 

Frances D. Fluhr Outstanding Service Award
The Outstanding Service Award was established in 1992 and renamed in honor of Frances D. Fluhr, RDH in 1993. It is in memory of her service to NJDHA for over 40 years. She contributed outstanding service on the Board of Trustees and in many officer positions. 

The purpose of this award is to identify and recognize the dental hygienist that is a member of NJDHA and has made outstanding contributions through volunteerism to dental hygiene on a state level.

Here are the criteria for nomination:
1. The nominee must be an active or life member of NJDHA for a minimum of 
five (5) years.
2. The nominee must have served on the Board of Trustees for a minimum of 
two (2) years.
3. The nominator must be a NJDHA member and submit a letter of recommendation 
for the nominee.
4. The nominee must submit a curriculum vitae outlining NJDHA outstanding service experience.

Carol King Award for Advancing the Profession of Dental Hygiene 
This award was established in 1986 in memory of Carol King, RDH. She was successful in breaking down barriers for Dental Hygienists who wish to practice as independent contractors in New Jersey.

The purpose of this award is to identify and recognize the dental hygienist that is a member of NJDHA and has advanced the Profession of Dental Hygiene.

Here are the criteria for nomination: 
1. The nominee must have been an active or life member of NJDHA for a minimum of five (5) years.
2. The nominator must be a NJDHA member and submit a letter of recommendation for the nominee.
3. The nominee must submit an essay that is no more than 750 words in length, typed and double-spaced. The essay must include contributions and achievements to advance the profession. The nominees should also express their value in the profession and how it has enhanced their lives.

Submissions do not require permission of the nominee. Please submit all nominations by August 1, 2008 to: 

Rebecca Welch Pugh, RDH
NJDHA Executive Director
856-985-0702 fax
executivedirector@njdha.org

NJDHA WESTPHAL SCHOLARSHIP 
This scholarship is named in honor of Cheryl Westphal, RDH, MS, Past President of NJDHA and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), and the first dental hygienist to serve on the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry.

The scholarship is presented at the NJDHA Garden State Conference to a third or fourth semester dental hygiene student, not including pre-requisite education. The scholarship has a minimum base contribution from NJDHA as well as contributions from individuals and NJDHA components.

Dental hygiene students interested in applying for the Westphal Scholarship must meet the following criteria:

1. Verification of a minimum GPA of 3.2 for the first year dental hygiene curriculum. A copy of the grade report may be submitted. 

2. Completion of a “Letter of Recommendation” form by a faculty member or director who has worked directly with the student. The “Letter of Recommendation” should be submitted under separate cover.

3. Submission of an original essay on the topic of “Promoting Our Profession”. This topic was Ms. Westphal’s theme during her year as ADHA President. The essay should be approximately 500 words in length, submitted on white bond paper, typed and double spaced. A separate cover sheet should be attached with the name of the student, dental hygiene program and the date. The essay will be evaluated on content, organization, development, grammar, and sentence structure.

4. Any New Jersey resident dental hygiene student or a dental hygiene student attending any New Jersey dental hygiene program.

The “Letter of Recommendation,” essay and GPA verification should be submitted by May 31st to:

Rebecca Welch Pugh, RDH
NJDHA Executive Director
856-985-0702 fax
executivedirector@njdha.org