| Journal |
Fall 2001
|
Helping the children: using Prop 10 grant
funds to treat some of the region's most underserved
 |
| Dr. David Rogers, dental anesthesia resident, screens a child at the Needles Head Start Program in preparation for treatment at the School of Dentistry. More than 1,100 children have been screened and have received treatment through funds from the Proposition 10 grant. |
On Friday, April 27, the School of Dentistry
provided dental care to some of the State’s most rural and underserved
children. During the first-of-its-kind event, nearly 60 children and their
guardians who live in Needles and Big River, remote desert areas virtually
inaccessible to dental care, traveled by bus to the School of Dentistry
so the children could receive treatment. Pediatric dental faculty in the
University’s pediatric dental clinics supervised their care.
In preparation for the event, Todd Milledge, SD’88, PG’95, chair,
pediatric dentistry department, joined faculty and staff, leaving the
University at 4:30 one morning and traveling to the children’s hometowns
where they screened and prepared individual treatment plans and charts.
Many of the children needed general anesthesia, and to ensure they were
properly prepared beforehand and cared for after the anesthesia wore off,
some of the children spent Thusday and Friday nights in the area. Funding
for the lodging was donated by Jeff Bennett, former mayor of Corona. Loma
Linda University and the Redlands Kiwanis Club also donated funds to pay
for expenses related to the children’s stay.
Since April 27, children from areas including 29 Palms, Big Bear, Morongo
Valley, Joshua Tree, and Yucca Valley have traveled by bus to the School,
with more than 200 children
 |
| Dr. David Anderson, chair, dental anesthesia, answers questions from the media. The proposition 10 event was featured in front-page newspaper articles an on evening newscasts. |
receiving full-mouth treatment during the
last few months.
The care was made possible by a grant from San Bernardino County Children
and Families Commission, part of the California Children and Families
Commission, chaired by filmmaker Rob Reiner and set up to distribute funds
from Proposition 10.
Funds are awarded to hospitals, child help agencies, and others to improve
the well-being of children too young to qualify for school-based programs.
Carla Lidner, SD’90, MS, assistant professor, and Charles J. Goodacre,
SD’71, MSD, dean, submitted a grant proposal to the Commission, and
were awarded $914,997 for dental care to be used for dental education
and services for children up to age 5, in San Bernardino County.
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