Vision: Optimal oral health for all children.

Mission: The Western Society of Pediatric Dentistry monitors child oral health issues throughout the district. We advance the specialty of pediatric dentistry for the benefit of the optimal oral health of infants, children, adolescents, and persons with special health care needs. 

WHAT WE DO:

The Society facilitates communications between the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the State/Province Units of the district and works to ensure state legislation and other enacted policies are in children’s best interests. 

Planning Objective 1: Advocacy

Monitor child oral health issues throughout the Western District. Work with AAPD Public Policy Advocates and other District leaders to ensure legislation and enacted policies are in children’s best interests. This work includes providing training and other technical assistance to help members be effective advocates in their practices and their communities.

Strategy: Maintain a State/Province level legislative monitoring program. Focus on priority and emerging issues in each State/Province that affect Western District pediatric dentists and the children in their care. Identify success and failures relating to pediatric dentistry in state legislatures and foster inter-State/Province collaboration on current issues and events.

Strategy: Appoint an “Advocacy and Legislative Liaison (ALL)” for the Western District that will sit on the WSPD Board as a non-voting member. Fund this position for travel to WSPD board meetings and Advocacy days in DC.

Planning Objective 2: Communications/Marketing

Foster inter-State/Province collaboration, keeping our members and our District and State/Province leaders apprised of critical issues affecting child oral health and pediatric dentistry.

Strategy: Charge the existing Communications Committee of the WSPD Board with establishing a communications plan supporting the legislative monitoring program (noted above) and other priority issues affecting States/Provinces within the Western District. 

Strategy: Enhance the existing WSPD website, extending the visibility and value to the members of the WSPD.

Strategy:  Foster inter-State/Province collaboration on current issues and events

Strategy: Support the WSPD Leadership Intern to develop their project to continually assess and enhance communications throughout the Western District.

Planning Objective 3: Operations

Continue our support of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry through District governance roles.  Maintain organizational effectiveness by meeting and exceeding accepted professional association management standards.

Strategy: Recognize and nurture invested volunteer leaders in the Western District. Support their growth within the District leadership. Ensure volunteer appointments for the AAPD within the Western District are filled by qualified, engaged AAPD/WSPD members. 

Strategy: Maintain finances to support WSPD priority activities. 

Strategy: Ensure each State/Province in our district has a PPA and necessary training and support.

Suggested success measures

By March 22, 2024, have the WSPD Leadership Intern project defined and ready to present in conjunction with the approval of the proposed strategic plan.

By June 15, 2024, Deliver the first newsletter to the WSPD membership via email.  Establish an improved communications platform via the WSPD website.                    

By October 4, 2024,  Appoint a Western District Advocacy and Legislative Liaison. Define the position and approve funding as a budget item.  Establish a collaborative District-wide legislative monitoring program.

By December 1, 2024, Establish an improved communications system among State/Province leaders to address immediate concerns as they occur.