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Strategic Plan

The ODAA conducted a comprehensive process to develop a new strategic plan for 2024-2027. Recognizing the importance of remaining agile, the ODAA Strategic Plan, outlined below, has been designed as a living document to be reviewed quarterly. Regular check-ins will occur at each Board meeting to ensure progress is made, and updates will be provided to members through The Journal and the Annual General Meeting. If you have questions about the strategic plan, please contact your Case Manager. 

 

Current ODAA Statements:

Mission Statement:

The ODAA recognizes and advances the professional standing of Certified Dental Assistants, Certified Dental Receptionists, and Certified Dental Treatment Coordinators. We support our members as essential and valued professionals integral to the oral health care team, fostering respect and pride through advocacy, leadership, quality continuing education, and recognized credentials.

Vision Statement:

As the leading voice in enhancing the profession and empowering Dental Assistants in Ontario, the ODAA is an inclusive organization dedicated to advocating for formally trained oral health professionals. The ODAA prioritizes public safety through the maintenance of rigorous certification standards, high-quality continuing education, and collaboration with other oral health professional organizations to further the respect and value of recognized credentials. The ODAA envisions a future where Dental Assistants in Ontario have a robust and respected voice within the sector. We strive for a future where dental assisting is viewed as a rewarding career within the oral health team and where our profession is recognized for its vital role in oral health care.

Value Statement:

The ODAA is an association established and led by its members. Our diverse organization values continuous and high-quality education, respect, empowerment and professionalism for all members.

 

Strategic Plan:

The 2024-2027 ODAA Strategic Plan has five strategic priorities. Strategic priorities are the critical, high-level ambitions that an organization focuses on to achieve its long-term goals and overall mission. These priorities act as a foundation for the organization's decision-making, resource allocation, and performance measurement. Strategic prioritization is crucial in charting a path toward success and achieving collective goals. Below each strategic priority are key objectives to help move the Association forward. Each objective has multi-part actions and timelines not included in the overview below. The actions and timelines allow ODAA Staff and Board Members to know who is responsible for each piece as they work toward the objectives in a timely manner.

Priority: Advocate for improved working conditions, wages, and benefits for Dental Assistants in Ontario

  • Implement a wage policy on the ODAA job board
  • Conduct more research into why Dental Assistants are leaving the field or leaving clinical positions and provide data to partner associations
  • Host a meeting with key stakeholders to discuss the shortage and challenges facing Dental Assistants in Ontario
  • Develop an education program aimed at dentistry students about the value of Dental Assistants
  • Conduct research with members on issues of workplace respect and equality to determine areas of improvement for advocating purposes
  • Education campaign for dentists focused on staff retention through benefits and improved wages
  • Develop a feedback loop between dental associations about challenges facing Dental Assistants
  • Develop more educational resources for members, such as webinars focused on resume and cover letter writing, interview skills, IPAC, negotiation, employment contracts, asking for raises, transferable skills, etc.
  • Develop a campaign to recognize the responsibilities and value Dental Assistants bring to their roles

Priority: Strengthen focus on member retention through enhanced continuing education offerings, member benefits, and communication initiatives

  • Implement and launch a voluntary member registry
  • Develop an in-house quality assurance program to ensure members are being recommended only the highest standards for continuing education options
  • Establish an ODAA award program to recognize the contributions of members to the profession
  • Explore alternative communication tools, such as an automatic texting service, for reminders about renewal or other important information
  • Survey members to determine member needs and develop new programs and initiatives
  • Add more incentives for renewal
  • Better communicate existing membership benefits
  • Develop a partnership to offer liability insurance
  • Create more awareness of what the Board and Team members are working on behind the scenes for members
  • Continued improvement and additions to member benefits and services

Priority: Foster robust partnerships with educational institutions emphasizing the value of membership and certification to students and new professionals

  • Review the current student outreach program to find gaps and opportunities for improvement
  • Meet with the students at the colleges on a regular basis to educate students on the role of Dental Assistants, certification, and the ODAA
  • Hold an annual meeting with educators to provide updates on the Association and find opportunities for collaboration and partnership; Create a dialogue with school administrators about the profession and membership
  • Develop ODAA presentations and guest speakers specifically for students
  • Work with more colleges to offer student membership within their program fees
  • Build relationships with dental assisting instructors; Communicate directly with dental assisting instructors to promote the ODAA in their classes
  • Develop incentives for student membership, such as a bursary program, prizes, or other draws
  • Offer special pricing for students to attend the ODAA conference to encourage networking and mentorship opportunities

Priority: Sustain constructive relationships with allied dental professional organizations and enhance engagement with governmental entities

  • Clarify Dental Assistants’ duties and responsibilities for stakeholders
  • Develop consistent communications with stakeholders to provide updates on the Association and membership, including establishing a schedule of outreach to the relevant provincial ministries and representatives
  • Host annual roundtable with stakeholders to provide updates and ensure everyone is on the same page
  • Continue to build partnerships with stakeholders that have existing government contacts
  • Work with relevant partners on the creation of an oral health college to ensure more protection for the public with the proper training and certification of their dental professionals
  • Develop more fulsome understanding of the sector landscape as well as the political, economic and social issues in Ontario through research and networking
  • Work with partners to hold educational presentations to their membership and support other professionals and their associations to develop reciprocal relationships
  • Contract a government relations and stakeholder engagement specialist
  • Target specific events to network and build relationships with stakeholders, focusing on both national and provincial advocacy and partnerships
  • Host annual roundtable with stakeholders to provide updates and ensure everyone is on the same page
  • Seek government funding to develop a strategy to address Dental Assistant shortage and retention issues in partnership with other associations
  • Conduct research to be clear about member needs to bring to stakeholders

Priority: Increase public awareness of the dental assisting profession

  • Build an organizational focus on media relations
  • Develop more email campaigns to stakeholders to advocate for Dental Assistants
  • Create and distribute marketing materials demonstrating the positives of dental assisting
  • Develop a media campaign on the importance of certification
  • Invest in advertising campaigns utilizing print, radio, digital, and television
  • Utilize Dental Assistants Recognition Week to advocate for the Association and its members
  • Conduct an audit of the ODAA website to identify areas of improvement and opportunities for more robust content
  • Review existing website content to ensure it is accessible to members, students, non-certified and non-members, dentists, educators, and other stakeholders
  • Build upon current outreach efforts to non-members

 

Last Updated: January 2025