In addition to meeting the needs of children, GKAS also serves as a call to action to encourage policymakers and the general public to work with dental professionals to develop strategies that address equal access to dental care for all citizens.

During GKAS Day, a dental exam, X-rays, cleaning, and fluoride treatment are provided to children age 3 to 15 years who:

• Have no access to dental care
• Have never seen a dentist
• Do not have private insurance
• Are eligible for free or reduced price lunches

Dentists throughout the Quad Cities sign up for GKAS Day and indicate the number of children and the age groups they are able to see. School nurses and nurses located at childcare centers and preschools identify eligible children. The admission process requires the consent of a parent or guardian. Once children have been identified, screened, and consent has been given, they are matched with area dentists by our GKAS Day Coordinators. There are two coordinators, one for Scott County, Iowa and one for Rock Island County, Illinois.

The match is based on the age groups and numbers dentists have signed up for and, generally, the proximity of the dental clinic to children’s school, preschool, or childcare center. The coordinators work out the logistics for dental appointments on GKAS Day, including times, transportation, and transportation to follow-up appointments if necessary.
 

United Way’s Success By 6 project, which coordinated GKAS Day in 2003, 2004, and 2005, is the largest early childhood development coalition in the U.S. Its goal is to ensure that all children enter kindergarten with an optimal chance to succeed. Through the work accomplished by GKAS Day over the last three years, more than 1,300 low-income, underserved children have received free dental screenings. More than 50% of these children were identified as needing follow-up treatment, and the majority received this care. Dentists have generously donated their time and expertise to complete follow-up work, some of which is extensive, including fillings, tooth extractions, orthodontia, and reconstructive work. Moreover, the value of area dentists’ in-kind contributions through GKAS Day has exceeded $500,000 over the last three years.	2005 Quad Cities Area Give Kids a Smile Day
	5  School districts
	42  Schools
	7  Agencies (childcare          centers, preschools, Illinois          Department of Children and          Families Services)
	90  Volunteer dentists
	474  Children screened

Clearly, the success of GKAS Day would have been impossible without the active commitment of dentists and their staff, as well as that of the many local agencies, schools, and transportation providers who support Success By 6.  Plans are already under way for Give Kids a Smile Day in 2006!!!

The Quad Cities area Volunteer Care Network, or VCN, developed from the impetus provided by GKAS Day, whose volunteer referral system was expanded to provide year-round access to dental care for children and adults of all ages. This was the result of a collaborative process by three local agencies: United Way of the Quad Cities Area, the Quad City Health Initiative (QCHI), and Community Health Care. Their partnership became the Quad Cities Oral Health Partners, which in 2003 secured a $50,000 Community Collaborations for Oral Health Care Access Grant from the American Dental Association, ADA Foundation, and Volunteers in Health Care. Funding for development and implementation has been  provided by an ABCD-E grant, the Rock Island District Dental Society, the Davenport District Dental Association, Genesis Health Systems, Trinity Health Systems, and United Way.

People who need dental care are referred to the dental coordinator and then screened over the phone to ensure that they meet eligibility criteria. Referrals come from the Community Health Care Dental Clinic, School Health Link System, Center for Active Seniors, Inc., and Alternatives for the Older Adult.

Our intent is that VCN dentists who accept referrals will provide patients with free basic dental care as outlined in an initial treatment plan. Once the initial treatment is completed, it is our hope that the participating dentists will continue to see these patients so that ongoing dental care is provided to those who need it most.

After screening, a match is made between the person and a dental professional, and an appointment is scheduled. Patients are asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to the appointment to fill out dental office and VCN paperwork. VCN staff will work with the individual to schedule additional appointments for subsequent treatment if needed.

A patient may cancel an appointment on the day of the appointment one time. If the reason for cancellation isn’t valid, or if the patient cancels more than once on the day of the appointment, the patient is excused from the program.

During the VCN pilot project (May through October 2004), 59 volunteer dentists provided care to 122 patients. So far in 2005, the number of volunteer dentists has increased to 62, and 5 dental labs have volunteered to donate dentures, partials, and crowns. The Volunteer Care Network, now a part of United Way’s information and referral InfoLINK, is successfully providing dental care for underserved children and adults in the Quad Cities area.

Return to first page, this issue