Local Partnership to “Give Kids a Smile” by Offering FREE School Dental Exams for Illinois Children!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2009
Contact
Alicia Ekhoff, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-4538
Nancy Greenwalt, Executive Director, SmileHealthy
(217) 390-5365
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Local Partnership to “Give Kids a Smile” by Offering FREE School Dental Exams for Illinois Children!
SmileHealthy, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, and Illini District Dental Society to provide a FREE Oral Health Fair at Marketplace Mall.
Champaign, IL – On Saturday, February 7, 2009, SmileHealthy, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD), and Illini District Dental Society will be providing FREE School Dental Exams by local volunteer dentists for Illinois school children at the Marketplace Mall in Champaign. These exams will be available from 10:00am – 4:00pm in the Marketplace Mall by Macy’s.
The simple 5 minute exam will be available for all children ages 3-17. This exam can be used to satisfy the State of Illinois mandated exam, due by May 15, 2009, required for all children in grades Kindergarten, 2nd and 6th. Children identified with dental issues will be referred to SmileHealthy, the CUPHD Dental Division, other partnering agencies, or their personal dentist for appropriate treatment. All participating children will receive a free dental care kit consisting of a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss. Appointments are not necessary; however, a parent or legal guardian must accompany their child.
The Oral Health Fair will feature a variety of free interactive activities for participants including:
- Delta Dental Tooth Wizard Shows (11:00am & 2:00pm)
- Dental Hygiene Counseling
- Face Painting
- The Tooth Fairy
- Healthy Food Bingo
- Dental Care Kits
- Infant Finger Toothbrushes
- Coloring Contest
- Nutrition Counseling
- All Kids Information and Application Assistance
- MUCH MORE!!!
"We expect to provide 200 dental exams at the event, but what is most exciting is the opportunity to get families set up with a dental home with our private practice dentists, CUPHD's Dental Program and SmileHealthy,” said Nancy Greenwalt, Executive Director for SmileHealthy. "I encourage people to come by even if you don't need an exam. It will be a chance to ask a registered hygienist that nagging question or participate in healthy food bingo or any of a number of activities. There will be lots to do and it is all free."
SmileHealthy is a local non profit that provides dental care for underserved Champaign County children for the County Health Department, for Head Start enrolled children and their families, and mobile dental clinics at Champaign county schools. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 217-359-7404 or visit www.smilehealthy.org.
“Basic Dental Care is an important part of a child’s overall health care. All children deserve the opportunity to receive regular, preventative dental care and restorative dental care when needed. No child should have to suffer with tooth pain,” said Alicia Ekhoff, Dental Program Coordinator for CUPHD. “All Kids provides all children with dental care coverage regardless of their household income and is accepted at Champaign-Urbana Public Health District for children age 3-18 living in Champaign or Urbana and still attending public school. Families interested in All Kids can begin an application at this event and complete the application process with assistance at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District”.
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District’s Dental Division offers general dental treatment at their 201 West Kenyon Road location in Champaign. Appointments are available Monday thru Friday; 8:00am – 4:00pm by calling 217-531-4279. Children enrolled in the Urbana School District may also be seen at the Urbana School Health Center located in the Urbana High School.
Appointments are available Monday thru Friday; 8:00am – 4:00pm by calling 217-239-4220. Mobile preventative dental clinics are also provided at all Champaign and Urbana public elementary and middle schools.
For more information about the Give Kids a Smile Oral Health Fair, please contact SmileHealthy at 217-359-7404 or on the web at www.smilehealthy.org. Additional information may be obtained by contacting CUPHD at 217-352-7961 or on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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