Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. – More children living in Walton County will receive dental care thanks to a grant from The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, the philanthropic affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF). Children’s Volunteer Health Network (CVHN) today received $95,651 from The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida. The grant will fund “Just for Grins,” a mobile dental program.
CVHN offers free, immediate access to quality medical, dental and mental health care to uninsured children in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. Utilizing a mobile dental bus, the “Just for Grins” program will travel to Walton County schools and provide preventative dental care, dental treatment referrals and dental health education to pre-qualified school children.
“Without this program, uninsured children in our area would not receive preventative dental care, follow-up treatment or dental care education,” said Dr. Mary Konovsky, Executive Director for Children’s Volunteer Health Network.
“A lack of dental care leads to long-term dental problems and poor overall health.” According to a report from the Surgeon General, dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease. A lack of childhood dental care can lead to poor overall health, diabetes, heart and lung disease, stroke and weakened immune systems. In addition to physical health issues, untreated oral health problems can undermine self-esteem, discourage normal social interaction and lead to chronic stress and depression.
The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida is dedicated to making a constructive contribution to the health and well-being of all Floridians – especially the uninsured and underserved. This grant is one of 11, totaling nearly $1 million, The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida has presented this winter to nonprofit health clinics and community outreach programs across Florida.
“We’re proud to support CVHN,” said Susan Towler, executive director of The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida. “Without programs like “Just for Grins,” uninsured children in Florida may not have access to the health care necessary for helping them grow into healthy and happy adults.”
The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida awards grants during two grant cycles per year. With the completion of the 2007 winter grant cycle, The Blue Foundation will have awarded 144 grants totaling more than $8.3 million since its founding in 2001.
The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida is a separate, philanthropic affiliate of BCBSF incorporated in the state of Florida. The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, and its parent, BCBSF, are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information on The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, please visit its Web site at www.bluefoundationfl.com.
CVHN, a faith-based, 501(C)3 organization in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, was founded in 2005 with a mission to enhance the lives of uninsured and underinsured school-aged children by facilitating free and immediate access to medical, dental and mental health care. The organization’s hope is to provide the opportunity for all children to be healthy and reach their potential.
CVHN has a network of over 80 volunteer medical professionals who donate their time and services to in-need children. Through this network, CVHN has facilitated over 1400 medical appointments for approximately 330 children.
