Volunteer Care Network Dental Programs of Iowa

For the last two years the United Way of the Quad Cities Area has received Foundation grants for purchasing needed supplies, educational materials, a scanner to save the past years' records, and to pay for transportation costs. Without transportation, half the children served would not be able to make it to the dentist. So this becomes a key factor in operating the program, such as Give the Kids A Smile. Because of the vital PFA support, PFA appears on all the United Way oral health billboards as well as being mentioned in all their public service television oral health announcements.

Give the Kids A Smile Day (GKASD) started in 2003 with the Success By 6 program. Fifty-two dentists were recruited who screened 303 children. Only 77% of the children who were signed up kept their appointments. Transportation was not provided the first year, which resulted in the high "no show" rate.

Of the children screened, 46% of them needed additional restorative work.

In 2004, the next year of the program, 517 children were served. Seventy-seven dentists were recruited to participate. Forty-six percent of the children needed to return for follow-up work. Ninety percent of the original screening appointments were kept because transportation was provided for the schools in Davenport.

In 2005, the number of children participating dropped due to the fact that their consent forms were being screened better. Some children were not accepted because they already had a dental provider. That year, 89 dentists were recruited to serve 474 children. Fifty-nine percent of the children needed to return for follow-up work. Ninety-three percent of the original appointments were kept leaving only a 7% "no show" rate.

By 2006, the number of participating children dropped again because many now had access to their own dentist and many parents had problems filling out the consent forms, thus 397 children were enrolled. Ninety-five dentists were recruited. Sixty percent of the enrolled children needed to return for restorative work. An astounding 94% of the children attended their appointments.

By 2007, the numbers of children dropped again. The State of Illinois (across the River) passed a law requiring that all children entering kindergarten, second, and sixth grades must have a dental exam prior to starting school. While they did get the screening at their own dentists, they failed to follow up for follow-up treatment. The consent form wording for the GKASD Program seemed to eliminate children who had seen a screening dentist for school. The consent form has been changed.

Ninety-five dentists were signed up to serve 305 children. Sixty percent needed restorative work, and 94% kept their appointments.

By 2008, the numbers were up. A short dental survey was instituted in the larger school districts so screening of the children was easier by the school nurses. Eighty-three dentists were recruited. That number has declined due to retirement, moving away, or because they no longer treat kids. Three hundred thirty-nine children were served with 48% needing further work and with 95% keeping their appointments.

Over the time of this program, 2,335 children were served over the last six years. Fifty-three percent of those children screened needed further treatment. Of those 8% were classified as Class 3, i.e. 8 or more restorations needed. The same 8% was the same for all five years.

Another advantage was the unison of involving all the area Head Start Programs, early learning centers, and some health departments. In kind donations are approaching $1 million during the last six years.

The Volunteer Care Network Program (VCN) commenced in 2004 as a result of a larger grant from Volunteers in Health Care. With the amount of support that United Way has had from the community they wanted to extend the screening/treatment to adults. Currently the VCN has sent 293 adults to local dentists. Some 68 dentists have been recruited over the last four years. Each dentist agrees to take at least three patients over a six-month period. In kind donations in the amount of $300,000 have been received for this program since 2004.

The grants from the Foundation have assisted in elevating and refining these programs to make a clear difference in dental treatment for the underserved even when they are located in our own Midwest.