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(BROOKINGS, SD) –First Bank & Trust in Brookings, South Dakota, recently donated a $2,500 matching gift to the Horizon Health Foundation to support Horizon Health Care’s Smiles for Miles program.
By the time children reach kindergarten, over 40% have cavities and 50% have never seen a dentist. Seeing a need for pediatric dental care in rural areas, Horizon piloted a children’s oral health campaign, “Smiles for Miles,” in 2018. The Smiles for Miles program supports free dental exams, cleanings and fluoride treatments for children 0-5 years old through the month of October. It’s important for children to see a dentist once they begin getting their first teeth.
“Establishing an early routine of regular dental check-ups is critical for our youngest patients,” said Michelle Scholtz, Chief Dental Officer at Horizon Health Care. “The Smiles for Miles program provides an opportunity for parents to have their young children seen by a dentist early in life putting then on a path to good oral health through the lifespan.”
Patients from Horizon’s medical and dental clinics can participate in the program. Horizon’s clinics accept Medicaid patients and those without insurance. Patients are given the option of a sliding fee payment based on income as well.
Since Smiles for Miles began, 939 children have received free dental care. Horizon Health Care saw 103 dental patients from Brookings between June 1, 2022, and June 2, 2023. Four of these were children.
“Establishing routine, quality dental care in children is invaluable to their future,” said Tom Fishback, market president at First Bank & Trust. “We are always looking for ways to give back to our communities. Our contribution to Smile for Miles is a small way that we can continue to help families in our area.”
Through the Smiles for Miles program, Horizon is providing access to dental care in rural areas and reducing the risk of tooth decay in young children. To make a matching gift contribution you can call the Foundation at 605-772-4553, or via our website at www.horizonhealthfoundation/smiles.
About Horizon Health Foundation
The Horizon Health Foundation was established in 2016 to ensure rural health care access to those in need and provide funding for Horizon Health Care. Horizon Health Foundation, a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation, seeks through responsible activities to encourage and derive sustaining gift support from current and former patients and interested friends, including corporate entities. The Horizon Health Foundation, operating in coordination with Horizon Health Care, is the duly designated fundraising arm for Horizon Health Care. In the broadest sense, the purpose of the Foundation is to create an awareness of the financial needs of Horizon Health Care, which are not provided by patient charges and to systematically implement plans by which dollar needs can be met.
About Horizon Health Care
For over 40 years, Horizon Health Care has been providing personalized, affordable, high-quality medical, dental and behavioral health care through a rural, community-based network in South Dakota. Horizon is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that serves the medical, dental and mental health care needs of South Dakotans in rural, medically underserved areas through 110,000 patient visits annually in 31 community health centers in: Aberdeen, Alcester, Bison, Bryant, De Smet, Eagle Butte, Elk Point, Faith, Fort Thompson, Howard, Huron, Isabel, La Plant, Lake Preston, Martin, McIntosh, Mission, Plankinton, Wessington Springs, White River, Woonsocket, and Yankton. For more information, please visit www.horizonhealthcare.org.