Start Date: August 18th, 2025

End Date: July 6th, 2026

About the Position: The Oral Health Access Fellow will serve in Sonrisas Dental Health’s community-based care programming covering dental health screenings and oral health education in schools and community centers, assisting with coordination, operations, health education and assessment, and data management and integrity. The NHC Member will also gain first-hand experience in the community-to-clinical care pipeline, assisting in appointment setting, chair-side dental care, and learning about high-needs care for patients who lack resources and/or have been without care for extended periods of time.

The NHC Member will contribute to the community oral health system, public health programs, and direct patient care. This educational program will provide both community oral health and clinical chair-side training opportunities in innovative, inter-professional healthcare settings and community outreach events. 

The NHC Member will conduct outreach, assist with community events, be trained to provide oral health education, provide an excellent follow-up experience for families, assist with direct dental care, and utilize our data management systems to ensure integrity of program and participant data.

About the Organization: Sonrisas Dental Health, Inc is a non-profit dental center dedicated to providing access to quality dental care and oral health education to our community. We provide these services with dignity, respect and compassion. Sonrisas Dental Health offer two locations in Half Moon Bay and San Mateo. Founded in 1996, Sonrisas Dental Health has worked closely with the San Mateo County community to increase outreach events and expanding dental health access to all residents of San Mateo County.

• Practicing intake and referrals of patients in need

• Providing follow-up and case management to deliver assistance and information

• Attending and participating in community or host site events

• Maintaining, assembling, and distributing materials and supplies

• Conducting program quality improvement and data analysis

• Entering data into EHR and maintaining data integrity

• Setting up for community health events

• Assisting with clinical patient care

   

• Familiar with health-related issues
• Detail-Oriented
• Research and analytical skills
• Community engagement/outreach skills
• Able to communicate effectively with all individuals

• Knowledge of AmeriCorps/Health Corps member requirements
• Skill with Microsoft Office or other software for a variety of data processing operations involving a range of problem solving, record keeping, correspondence, and service tracking options.
• Basic knowledge of Sonrisas’ data management systems, knowledge of standard operating procedures for Sonrisas’ community and clinical programs, complete infection control training, complete other required onboarding training items. Member will also be expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner in both the performance of their duties and their appearance.
  • Members will be trained on what these systems and expectations are during Host Site Training.

• Member uses initiative in carrying out recurring assignments following set procedures, independently
• The supervisor assigns service activities, advises on changes in procedures, and is available for assistance when required
• The supervisor assigns service activities in terms of project objectives and basic priorities and is available for consultation in resolving controversial issues.

• The service activities are reviewed for accuracy through spot checks, through complaints from customers, and through observation of the member at service.
• The member independently plans and carries out the projects and selects the approaches and methods to be used in solving problems
• Completed projects are reviewed very generally to determine that objectives have been met and are in compliance with policies and regulations.

• Written and oral guides provide specific instructions for doing service
• Most instructions are easily memorized and require little interpretation
• Detailed guidelines exist, including regulations and directives, handbooks, precedents, industry standards, and files of previous projects
• Guidelines are generally applicable, but the member independently makes adaptations in dealing with problems and unusual situations

• Member has to develop, analyze, or evaluate information before the service position can progress
• In making decisions, the member is often required to depart from past approaches and to extend traditional techniques
• The member must develop new techniques, methods, or approaches to complete service position assignments

• In addition to English, the NHC Member is required to:
  • Speak Spanish at a Limited Working Proficiency, defined as "Able to satisfy routine social demands and limited work requirements."
  • Read Spanish at Elementary Proficiency, defined as "Able to read some personal and place names, street signs, office and shop designations, numbers, and isolated words and phrases."