VANCOUVER, Wash., Sept. 6, 2017 -Â The Free Clinic of Southwest Washington has received a $5,000 grant from the Patterson Foundation to help fund its oral health program. The program served low-income, uninsured children and adults through 1,255 visits in fiscal year 2016-17.
The clinic provides dental services at its location at the Jim Parsley Center and in its mobile dental van at Clark County schools and community-sponsored events. Dental volunteers fill cavities and screen, seal and varnish children's teeth. Dental care for adults includes extractions, fillings, the repair of broken teeth and pain relief. Without the Free Clinic, many of these patients would seek care in highly expensive hospital emergency rooms.
"Restoring the oral health of families living in poverty eliminates a barrier to their participation in the workforce," says Executive Director Barbe West. "Access to dental care is a key component in breaking the cycle of inter-generational poverty."
About the Free Clinic:
The Free Clinic of Southwest Washington provides free, compassionate, quality health care to children and adults who are otherwise unable to obtain such services. The Free Clinic offers medical, dental, vision and specialty care services from more than 500 volunteer professionals. The Free Clinic is funded by the local community, and all donations stay in Southwest Washington. For more information about the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, visit our website: freeclinics.org.
September 8, 2017
