The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) has announced that its Hygienist Inspired program is among five recipients of the 2026 Delta Dental Future Workforce Fund awards. The funding will support efforts to introduce young people to oral health careers and develop pathways into the dental workforce.
Delta Dental announced the awardees on October 21, 2026, committing nearly $3 million in total funding over three years to help the selected organizations expand, evaluate, and sustain their workforce development programs. Since 2023, Delta Dental has committed more than $5.6 million to the fund.
Hygienist Inspired is a multiyear ADHA initiative focused on strengthening the dental hygiene workforce through chairside recruitment and community outreach. The program draws on dental hygienists' professional experience and patient relationships to introduce students to career opportunities and encourage interest in the profession.
“The future of oral health depends on whether young people can see a place for themselves in the profession, and have someone open the door,” said Marlyce James, EdD(c), RDH, CDA, FADHA, program manager of ADHA’s Hygienist Inspired program. “This three-year investment will help our Ambassadors and Allies build meaningful connections, introduce students to dental hygiene, and strengthen pathways into a workforce that reflects the communities it serves.”
According to ADHA, the funding will support the program's Ambassadors and Allies as they engage with students and communities to raise awareness of dental hygiene careers. The initiative is intended to expand opportunities for young people to learn about the profession and consider dental hygiene as a career path.
“A strong oral health workforce requires more than promising ideas — it requires sustained investment, collaboration, and a commitment to learning what works,” said James W. Hutchison, president and CEO of Delta Dental Plans Association. “Through this three-year funding commitment, we will help proven organizations deepen their impact, strengthen evaluation, and share approaches that can be replicated across communities. Together, we are investing in the next generation of oral health professionals and expanding access to care for years to come.”
The other four 2026 awardees are the American Dental Education Association, the Hispanic Dental Association, Mentorships in Dentistry, Inc., and Planet Smilez, Inc.
Delta Dental states that the three-year funding commitment reflects practices outlined in its white paper, The Pathway Effect: A Guide to Strengthening the Oral Health Workforce Through Early Exposure Programs, which addresses programs designed to introduce young people to oral health careers.
More information about the Future Workforce Fund and its awardees is available at deltadental.com/fund. More information about Hygienist Inspired is available at https://www.adha.org/HygienistInspired.
