Announcement

January 2, 2006

For Immediate Release
For More Information, contact
Molly Kaser
517/784-3950

Please note:  This year’s Give Kids A Smile Honorary Chair is Senator Mark Schauer, who has been an advocate for the Center for Family Health and helping to increase access to health care for all people.  The Senator will be attending the event Friday between 11:00 and 1:00 and will be available for questions. 

Give Kids A Smile Day Scheduled for February 3rd & 4th

Center for Family Health’s 3rd Annual Give Kids A Smile Day is scheduled for Friday, February 3rd from 9am to 5pm and Saturday, February 4th from 9am to 2pm.  This event takes place at the CFH Dental Clinic located at 817 W. High. Last year this event served more than 200 children and officials expect to serve even more during this year’s event. 

For these two days, the dental clinic will be open to children under the age of 16 on a walk in basis only - no appointments are necessary.  During this visit, each child is provided a dental screening and cleaning.  The Center for Family Health is encouraging every child who has not been to the dentist in the past year or who is experiencing mouth pain to come in for this free check up.

Senator Mark Schauer, Give Kids A Smile 2006 Honorary Chair, is committed to improving the health of the entire community.  “Dental care is primary care, and we are fortunate that the Center for Family Health is helping to meet this need in Jackson County.”

Hundreds if not thousands of children in Jackson do not receive dental care.  Every week we see kids in their teens that have never been to the dentist before. For some children, Give Kids A Smile Day will be their first opportunity to visit the dentist. 

“Dental decay in Jackson County children is 5 times more prevalent than asthma,” Dr. Jane Grover, Dental Director for the Center for Family Health. “This statistic reinforces what we already know – kids living in poverty, who are uninsured or underinsured, are not getting adequate dental care.”

“This event is our opportunity to see and reach children that have never been to a dentist.” 

To make the event a fun and enjoyable experience for children who may be coming to the dentist for the first time, McDonald’s Ronald and the Hamburglar will be visiting.  In addition, storytellers and volunteers making balloon animals will help to make the day fun.

“Our mission is to ‘open the door to health care for all’ and this event is one of the many ways we try to provide access to health care for those who can’t afford it,” explains Molly Kaser, Executive Director of the Center for Family Health.  

Give Kids A Smile Day is a national event sponsored by the American Dental Association, Crest and the Healthy Smile 2010 initiative.   This event is designed to give all children access to dental care. 

“I urge everyone to join me in supporting Give Kids A Smile Day in any way they can,” says Senator Schauer.

The Center for Family Health is a non profit organization that offers family medical and dental services on a sliding scale discount.  The Center for Family Health served more than 20,000 people in 2005 and turned no one away due to inability to pay.

If you have any questions, please call Sheri Silver, Dental Clinic Manager at 784-9385.

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