Greater Elgin Family Care Center expands access to school-based oral health

Greater Elgin Family Care Center recently announced the expansion of its School-Based Oral Health Care program.

The expansion occurs during the 2019-2020 academic year and focused on increased care provision in the schools of both Community Unit District 300 and Elgin Area School District U-46.

Greater Elgin Family Care Center has provided dentistry since its inception, and the initiation of its School-Based Oral Health Care Program began in September 2007.

The center's long-standing partnership with Districts 300 and U-46 has led to a projected growth of 42% in the number of schools served by the center and its School-Based Oral Health Care Program.

For academic year 2019-2020, the center projects that its School-Based Oral Health Care Program will be offered in 37 schools in the two districts, compared to last academic year's 26 schools.

Greater Elgin Family Care Center is proud of its substantial and ongoing collaboration with both Districts and is appreciative of the trust each has placed in the Dental Care Team.

Greater Elgin Family Care Center's mission of providing quality affordable health care for all, including those without the ability to pay, is the driving force behind the organization's motivation to create access to health care services for the community's most vulnerable. School-based care is an important part of the fabric of the country's health care system, as the model brings essential services right to where they are needed the most. School-based care is provided in a safe, convenient, and accessible location - one that is central to the lives of many families.

A partnership between a Federally Qualified Health Center, such as Greater Elgin Family Care Center, and large school districts like Community Unit District 300 and Elgin Area School District U-46, further strengthens the safety net for the community, ensuring that children are succeeding not only in school, but also in life.

Parents can make appointments for their children directly with their child's school. Visit gefcc.org/find-a-health-center/school-based-locations/ for a complete list of schools and dates.

Patients seeking oral health care services can also schedule an appointment with Greater Elgin Family Care Center's Dental Clinic by calling (847) 608-1344.

Greater Elgin Family Care Center is the area's premier Federally Qualified Health Center, providing the full range of quality, affordably priced, fully integrated primary care services to over 51,000 area residents by almost 167,000 medical, behavioral health and dental appointments annually. Operating 10 Community Health Centers in 5 northeastern Illinois counties, the organization is accredited by The Joint Commission, Primary Care Medical Home certified, repeatedly nationally recognized for both its health outcomes and cost efficiency, and provides care regardless of the patient's ability to pay.