Miles for SMILES!
The Miles for Smiles 2008 walk generated $14,724.00 of total money raised,
$2,398.00 in In-Kind Contributions,and 190 people participated in the walk!
Special thanks to everyone involved, and congratulations on a job well done!!!
Miles for Smiles 2009 Walk will be held at Hawk Island Park in Lansing on April
18th with registration beginning at 9am and the walk starting at 10am!
For more information or to become a sponsor, please contact Teresa Spitzer at
517-482-1504 or Teresa.Spitzer@cacsheadstart.org
Click
here for dental "Did you
knows..."!
Click here for the 2008 poster
Click here for a printable map
Click here for a printable contribution form
Click here for a printable registration form
"Miles for SMILES" is a fundraising effort sponsored by Capital Area Community Services, Inc., Head Start, and Early Childhood Programs to raise money to help pay for dental care for uninsured Head Start families. Please be sure to watch for opportunities to help families who greatly need assistance getting the dental care they need. For more information on "Miles for SMILES" call 517-482-1504 or email hsinfo@cacsheadstart.org.
What is Head Start?
Head Start is a federal program for pre-school children from low-income families. Children who attend Head Start participate in a variety of educational activities. They also receive medical and dental care, have healthy meals and snacks, and enjoy playing indoors and outdoors in a safe setting.
Head Start helps all children succeed! Services are offered to meet the special needs of children with disabilities. Most children in Head Start are between the ages of three and five years old. Services are also available to infants and toddlers in selected sites.
Head Start children are examined by skilled professionals for any health problems. Professionals will arrange vision and hearing tests and any needed immunizations. Head Start offers a nutrition assessment and dental exams as well. Children with health needs receive follow-up care.
Mental health and other services are available for children and families with special needs.
Why "Miles for Smiles"?
Dental decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease among our children today. What is surprising is how many parents of these children are also suffering from dental disease.
It is very difficult for a parent to provide for the basic needs of their family when they are suffering in pain from dental disease. Research also shows that people who suffer from chronic dental disease have more absences from school and work, low self-esteem, and rarely smile. Getting a job is often based on first impressions. Missing and/or rotten teeth could exclude a person from potential employment.
Families and parents who seek dental care usually find a lack of community dental resources. Those who have Medicaid dental coverage often have a difficult time finding a dentist who accepts Medicaid's low reimbursement rate. The bottom line is there are a disproportionate number of Medicaid dentists to families needing services.
How you can help!
Please take a moment to think of how you would like to contribute to the "Miles for Smiles" walk and make a difference in the lives of Head Start families.
Parent Testimonial:
Sara, a mother whose child attends Head Start was physically sick as a result of abscessed gums and decayed teeth. Sara, like many other working poor, had no health or dental insurance. Sara's condition came to our attention when a Head Start Social Worker visited her in her home. The Social Worker saw that Sara was in excruciating pain and was vomiting as a result of the infection in her mouth. The Social Worker contacted Head Start's Health Manager who personally paid the bill to Redi-Care for a course of antibiotics. Since then, others have contributed money to pay for the restorative dental work that Sara needed.
