A $30,295 grant from the Blue & You Foundation will help dental hygiene students at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith provide preventive dental services to children in low-income families in the Fort Smith area.
The grant will fund the “After School Smilz” program in the College of Health Sciences at UAFS, through which dental hygiene students will provide dental care to at-risk children in the area who lack access to dental care.
The selected target elementary schools located in Fort Smith are Albert Pike, Howard, Trusty, Tilles, and Spradling. Preventive services provided will include a dental cleaning, radiographs, oral hygiene education, fluoride treatment, and examination by a dentist and sealants if indicated. Students that require urgent care will be aided in finding a dental facility for treatment. The funds will subsidize dental supplies, while the students and faculty members are volunteering their time for the program.
“We are excited at the receipt of these monies for this important program, which will increase access to dental care for our most vulnerable population: underserved children,” said Dr. Carolyn Mosley, dean of the College of Health Sciences.
The UAFS Foundation was one of 40 organizations to receive a grant from the organization, which granted a total of $2.3 million to health initiatives across the state.
The Blue & You Foundation received 226 grant applications requesting $14 million in support. The 2018 grant selections were made by Blue & You Foundation board members: Susan Brittain, Malvern; Robert V. Brothers, Lowell; Robert D. Cabe, chairman of the board, Little Rock; Mark Greenway, Lowell; James V. Kelley, Little Rock; Carla Martin, Pine Bluff; and Dan Nabholz, Conway. The foundation is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and serves the state of Arkansas.
About the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith is the premiere regional institution of Western Arkansas, connecting education with careers and serving as a driver of economic development and quality of place in the greater Fort Smith region. Small class sizes, dedicated faculty and staff, affordable tuition rates, and a diverse on-campus culture allow UAFS students to fully explore their areas of interest in ways that prepare them for post-graduate success academically, professionally, and personally. To find out what makes UAFS just right for you, go to www.uafs.edu.