L.A. Care Cares About Oral Health
8/26/2007

The Neighborhood Mobile Clinic receives major support from a local healthcare provider.
By Veronica Jauriqui

The USC Neighborhood Mobile Clinic has received a $150,000 grant from the nonprofit L.A. Care Health Plan to provide services to neighborhood children served through the clinic’s sealant program.

L.A. Care is the nation’s largest public health plan serving residents of Los Angeles County through a variety of programs including Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and Healthy Kids.  Currently, the plan has nearly 800,000 enrolled members.

This gift was part of L.A. Care’s Oral Health Initiative, launched in 2003 in response to the high prevalence of oral disease, especially among children, in Los Angeles County.  The gift to the Neighborhood Mobile Clinic was part of $2.1 million in grants given by L.A. Care and First Five L.A.—a California state initiative that funds services directed at children under five years of age—to 16 clinics that offer free and low-cost dental services for low-income children and adults.

L.A. Care’s support will be directed towards the Neighborhood Mobile Clinic’s sealant project, which provides oral health services to elementary school children attending USC’s Family of Schools.  The program, part of the USC School of Dentistry’s community outreach, applies dental sealants as well as conducts oral examinations, dental cleanings, fluoride treatments, and offers referrals for treatment of existing dental diseases.

"For kids who are at risk for dental decay and have limited or no access to dental care, dental sealants can prevent the cascade of problems that can result from tooth decay,” says Jennifer Holtzman, a USCSD faculty member and director of the Neighborhood Mobile Clinic.  “L.A. Care understands that oral health is a vital part of a child’s overall health.  Their support is critical to the clinic’s continued outreach and success.”

In addition to this gift, the Neighborhood Mobile Clinic also receives monies every year from the USC Good Neighbor Program.

“Many people don’t realize that oral diseases have a significant impact on a person’s overall health and well-being,” said Dr. Elaine Batchlor, Chief Medical Officer of L.A. Care Health Plan, in a press release. “Poor oral health can lead to a number of systemic diseases, including gum disease, heart disease, lung disease and diabetes. We’re glad to partner with First 5 L.A. to address this potentially life-threatening problem.”

More than 11,000 inner-city children have received preventative dental care and oral health education through the Neighborhood Mobile Clinic since 2001.  During the 2005-2006 school year, more than 600 elementary school children received treatment.

[top]