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Volunteers needed for Cass Community Health Foundation’s school-based dental screenings

volunteer providing dental screening to young boy

BELTON, Mo., (Aug. 1, 2024) – Cass Community Health Foundation is recruiting volunteers for the months of September, October, November, and December to help conduct their annual school-based dental screenings in Cass County and Grandview schools.

Local dentists, dental hygienists, and community members can volunteer their time as screeners, varnishers, or data recorders. Cass Community Health Foundation will visit schools in Archie, Belton, Cleveland, Drexel, East Lynne, Grandview, Harrisonville, and Pleasant Hill this fall. Volunteers with no dental experience are needed to help record screening data, facilitate the events, and hand out home care supplies. Dentists and registered dental hygienists are needed to perform oral health screenings. Other dental office team members can also help. In addition to screenings, volunteers will help provide oral health education, oral hygiene supplies, and, with parental consent, two free fluoride varnish applications to students.

“During the 2023-2024 school year, we saw more than 6,700 students, which was the most children our program has screened since its inception,” Cynthia Randazzo, Cass Community Health Foundation president and CEO, said. “This school year’s schedule will likely produce the same results. We encourage Cass County and Grandview community members to volunteer their time and become part of one of the largest efforts to maintain healthy teeth in our area.”

The foundation works with school nurses to ensure the children screened receive the dental services they need. Those insured by Missouri Medicaid and those uninsured who pass a financial screening are referred to the foundation’s safety net dental clinic, Cass County Dental Clinic.

Community members interested in volunteering can sign up and learn more about our school-based dental screening program at casscommunityhealth.org/screenings.