REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

Give Kids A Smile Day, February 3, 2006
This year, 95 area dentists are participated in Give Kids A Smile Day, offering free dental check-ups and follow-up care to nearly 400 under served children throughout the Quad-Cities who lack dental insurance and/or a dental home.

United Way Success By 6 coordinates this dental health access initiative, in partnership with the Davenport and Rock Island District Dental Societies, seven school districts, Rock Island/Milan Head Start, Project Now Head Start in Silvis, Head Start/Iowa East Central TRAIN in Scott County, the Illinois Department of Children and Families Services, Community Health Care, Scott County Family Y, Hampton Township Health Clinic, and private childcare centers.

Give Kids A Smile Day Highlights:

• Over 1690 area children have been seen since our inaugural GKAS Day in 2003!
  
• In 2006, 60% of children who received check-ups required follow-up care.
  
• 95 dentists, both general and specialists, donated their time and expertise this year.  In addition 19 volunteers helped supervise and entertain children in dental offices throughout the Quad-Cities.
  
• Since 2003, area dentists have donated nearly $750,000 of in-kind services for GKAS Day!
  
• Ronald McDonald Charities, Skate Party QCA, and private donations provide funding for GKAS Day 2006.
  
• Success By 6 children's dental health awareness billboards and PSAs targeting parents and caregivers of young children were displayed throughout the Quad-Cities during February, appropriately National Children's Dental Health Month, and March 2006.  These billboards and PSAs were underwritten by the American Dental Association Foundation and through in-kind support from Lamar Outdoor Advertising.
  

Born Learning Campaign
United Way Success By 6, in partnership with the Ad Council and Civitas, has launched the Born Learning Campaign.  All children are born learning, and parents and caregivers of young children are the first and most important teacher an infants and young child's life.  Born Learning provides parents and caregivers with simple and practical tools and techniques to help make everyday moments in life teachable moments in the life of a child.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to contact United Way Success By 6 to receive information on ways to help children learn.  You can also visit BornLearning.org for more information.  And look for Born Learning public service announcements, produced by the Ad Council, on KWQC TV6 and WQAD TV8.

The printing and reproduction of Born Learning materials was provided by The Moline Foundation, Community Foundation, and Fidlar Technologies.