Something to Smile About

By Mary Skatberg

When Michael was very young, he had health problems for which a lot of antibiotics were prescribed. The antibiotics contributed to severe tooth decay and when Michael entered Head Start, he had still not received the necessary treatment because his family was uninsured and not eligible for Medicaid.

Because each child receives medical, vision, and dental screenings upon entering the Community Partnership for Child Development's (CPCD) programs, Michael's dental concerns were identified and he was immediately referred for treatment. CPCD partners with numerous dentists in our community to provide services at reduced fees for children in our programs. Small Smiles Dental Clinic provided Michael with the necessary dental treatment and CPCD paid for the bill out of funds raised in the community. Thanks to the support of organizations such as Pacificare Foundation, the Colorado Springs Dental Society, Nutrition Camp School Foundation, and Peterson Air Force Base Officers' Wives Club, CPCD is able to ensure that all of the children in our programs receive the treatment they need, without regard to their ability to pay.

As a result of prevention and early intervention health programs, children are healthier and more successful in school and life. When Michael looked in the mirror the first time after receiving treatment, he said, "Now the other children won't laugh at me anymore."

Michael's mom is very pleased with the results. "Michael can't stop smiling now!" she said. "And his speech is a lot clearer."

CPCD would like to thank Small Smiles Dental Clinic and the numerous other dentists for their support of our programs.

This article was reprinted with permission from the CPCD Community Connection, a quarterly publication of Community Partnership for Child Development, Colorado Springs, Colorado, T: 719-635-1536; Web page: http://www.cpcdheadstart.org.