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WCCCD Partners With Michigan Department of Human Services to Present a Dental Health Seminar to Foster Care Youth

Posted on: Monday, 12 January 2009, 15:55 CST

DETROIT, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) has partnered with the Michigan Department of Human Services to present a free seminar on oral health for foster care youth. The seminar will be held at the District's new Northwest Campus, in the Student Welcome Center on Wednesday, January 14, at 2:00 p.m.

At the event, students of the District's Dental Program will schedule teeth cleaning appointments for attendees during the month of February in honor of national Children's Dental Health month. Both in care and aged out of foster care youth will be eligible for the special program and cleaning services.

"The current challenging economic environment forces more people to do without basic oral and dental health care and this seminar aims to provide access to these services through our exemplary dental programs," said Dr. Curtis L. Ivery, Chancellor of the multi-campus system. "We are delighted to partner with the Michigan Department of Human Services and ensure that these services are offered to those who need it the most."

The Michigan Department of Human Services is deeply committed to assisting youth in the foster care program, as well as those who age out of the system, said Director Ismael Ahmed.

"We are very pleased to partner with the Wayne County Community College District to provide free or low-cost preventive dental care that is so important to youths' overall health," Ahmed added. "This is one other way we can offer tangible support to young people who deserve our help and encouragement."

Each year, students of WCCCD's dental program offer free teeth cleaning services to children between the ages of three and 18 during the month of February. As part of a pilot program launched with the DHS, these free services are being extended to in care and aged out of foster care youth this year.

Attendees will learn about oral health, receive giveaways and refreshments and can register for a teeth cleaning session. The seminar will include demonstrations on oral health care by WCCCD students.

WCCCD houses all three dental career programs -- Dental Hygiene, Dental Assisting and Dental Lab Technology. The location of the dental programs in the Health Sciences Center in the new Northwest Campus provides easy access to care to members of the community. The Dental Hygiene program provides year-round, low cost dental preventative services to children and adults.

WCCCD is committed to the continued development of new programs, hosting more community-based training sessions, improving student facilities and services, upgrading technologies, making capital investments in massive building expansion projects, training staff members to enhance their skills to maximize efficiency.

Members of the public who would like to schedule free teeth cleaning appointments for children ages three to 18 for the month of February call 313-943-4010. Appointments are limited and are allotted on a first come first serve basis.

For more information on WCCCD, please visit www.wcccd.edu. For more information about the DHS Foster Youth in Transition program, visit www.michigan.gov/fyit.

SOURCE Wayne County Community College District

Source: PR Newswire

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