Pediatric Dental Care Aid Announced At Tom Lee Community Health Center During Tribute Week For Centers Nationwide(August 12, 2009) - # - MyPaperNow.com

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Tom Lee, former president of the Florida Senate, and State Sen. Ronda Storms were in attendance at the Tom Lee Community Health Center on Aug. 12, 2009, to witness the announcement of a pediatric dental health care initiative for children in need. The collaboration aims to ensure easy access to dental services for students in grades 2 and 7 plus toddlers in Head Start. The goal is to serve some 3,500 children in the first year. The collaboration involves Suncoast Community Health Centers, Inc.; the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners; the Hillsborough County School District; and More Health, Inc., a health education and injury prevention program in partnership with Tampa General Hospital and All Children's Hospital and sponosred and endorsed by both the Hillsborough and Pinellas county school districts.

Ken Hagan, chairman of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, and Connie Smaldone, honorary mayor of Brandon, just before the formal announcement of the dental health collaboration. The Aug. 12, 2009 announcement was made at the Tom Lee Community Health Center in Dover, Fla., at 14254 Martin Luther King Blvd., also known as State Road 574.

The announcement was made during National Community Health Center Week at the Dover-based community health center, one of four such centers operated by Suncoast Community Health Centers, Inc.. Also in the network are the Ruskin Health Center, at 2814 14th Ave. S.E.; Plant City Family Care, at 508 N. Maryland Avenue; and SCHC Pediatrics, also in Plant City, at 502 N. Mobley Street, Suite 1.

Community Health Centers such as these, also known as Federally Qualified Health Centers, are intended to provide access to high-quality health care to individuals and families regardless of a person's insurance status or ability to pay. These not-for-profit centers are directed locally by community providers of medical services, including primary and preventive health care, as well as "enabling" services, such as those that provide translators for people who do not speak English.

The dedication plaque at the Tom Lee Community Health Center in Dover, Fla., notes that the center is "dedicated to [former] Senator [President Tom] Lee in recognition and appreciation of his efforts on behalf of the children of Hillsborough County."

In her remarks, State Sen. Ronda Storms said the Aug. 12, 2009 press conference was a chance for Lee "to see the fruits of his labor." She called the Tom Lee Community Health Center "a great testament of public service." As Storms put it: "Think of the lives that this building will serve."

State Rep. Kevin C. Ambler applauds the effort announced at the Tom Lee Community Health Center to bring accessible and affordable dental health care to children in need throughout Hillsborough County. In his remarks, Ambler applauded also the Community Health Center movement, which he said would be at the center of the state's effort to revamp health care. He added that he hoped the effort would serve, too, as a model for the country. Ambler later in the ceremonies received an award from the Florida Association of Community Health Centers for his support of community health centers.

In the background is Ron Pierce, who organized the Aug. 12 press conference announcing the dental health collaboration among Suncoast Community Health Centers, the Hillsborough County School District, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, and More Health, Inc. The conference was scheduled to coincide with National Community Health Center Week.

"Thank you for including us and allowing us to be a part of this program," said Karen Pesce, executive director of More Health, Inc., a health education and injury prevention program in partnership with Tampa General Hospital and All Children's Hospital and sponosred and endorsed by both the Hillsborough and Pinellas county school districts.

She noted that this is More Heath's 20th year in the Hillsborough County school system. The group, incorporated in 1996 as a nonprofit, notes that it has taught some 1.9 million students since 1989.

Pesce announced, too, that More Health has received a state grant to teach some 18,000 students in kindergarten through grade 2, starting in September 2009. The aim is to use the roughly $122,000 grant to create an oral health coalition involving a broad base of community players. She noted that oral health pain is the number one reason children miss school. The aim is to increase screenings, "to look into children's mouths and see what's happening," Pesce said. "Did you ever think that about the fact that cavities never need to happen?" Pesce said. "With the right oral health care a child need never have a cavity," with such things as flouride varnishes and sealants.

Dental Health Consultant Kim Herremans, right, with Dee Fridella, manager of the Hillsborough County Neighborhood Service Center. Herremans said the "Closing the Gap" grant, matched by state funds, will be used to held establish a dental health care collaboration to meet the needs of children in need. "It will be a one-stop place for clients and providers to gather all dental health care resources," said Herremans, who has a dental hygenist background. "For many children, this is the first time that they've seen a dentist. It's nice to be able to do that for them."

"It's challenging for those who are insured to get out and take care of their dental health much less our most vulnerable children," said Ken Hagan, chairman of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, in an interview before his formal remarks at the Aug. 12, 2009 press conference at the Tom Lee Community Health Center. "[The Dental Health Collaboration] takes a two-pronged approach, getting to children in the second grade and again in the seventh grade, and also working with three- and four year-olds in the Head Start program. This is a wonderful partnership."

Hagan said he pledges "to help out by using county facilities," such as recreation centers and libraries, "wherever they are most needed to provide these dental health services."

Workers in pediatrics at the Tom Lee Community Health Center, from left, Marcela Rosales, Dr. Luz Torres, Carmen Ramirez, Maria Lucuara, Carola Pineda, and Soleyman Alvarenga. The doctor, nurses, and staff members welcomed visitors for a tour preceding and following the Aug. 12, 2009 announcement of the pediatrice dental care collaboration.

A hallway view of the Tom Lee Community Health Center in Dover, Fla. "The community health center movement is a testament that health care is available," said a speaker at the Aug. 12 press conference in celebration of National Community Health Center week.

Tom Lee, former president of the Florida Senate, and State Sen. Ronda Storms were in attendance at the Tom Lee Community Health Center on Aug. 12, 2009, to witness the announcement of a pediatric dental health care initiative for children in need. The collaboration aims to ensure easy access to dental services for students in grades 2 and 7 plus toddlers in Head Start. The goal is to serve some 3,500 children in the first year. The collaboration involves Suncoast Community Health Centers, Inc.; the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners; the Hillsborough County School District; and More Health, Inc., a health education and injury prevention program in partnership with Tampa General Hospital and All Children's Hospital and sponosred and endorsed by both the Hillsborough and Pinellas county school districts.

Suncoast Community Health Centers, Inc.; the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners; the Hillsborough County School District; and More Health, Inc., a health education and injury prevention program in partnership with Tampa General Hospital and All Children's Hospital and sponosred and endorsed by both the Hillsborough and Pinellas county school districts." href="javascript:openLB(618086924,'',XLarge,'',1024,692);">

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