August 26, 2013
By Mandi Enger
The Dr. Joel and Carol Bower School-Based Health Center (SBHC) has been selected by 8 News NOW to be one of the three local children’s clinics to benefit from the Dial 4 A Smile telethon scheduled for Sept. 10 through 12 during its 4pm to 6pm newscast.
Funds raised during the three-day event will support clinics that provide medical and dental care to un-insured and under-insured children in the valley including the SBHC, The Children’s Free Clinic of Southern Nevada and Future Smiles.
Without reliable access to healthcare, school-aged children often have increased school absences, which often translate into a greater risk of doing poorly in school, said 8 News NOW Community Promotions Director Michelle Layton. The goal is to ensure children have the medical and dental services they need to be healthy and have a greater chance of success in school. Dial 4 A Smile is designed to provide funding to three wonderful organizations, so they may treat and positively impact more children and provide a better way of life.
Located in Henderson on the Basic High School campus, the SBHC was founded in 2004 through a Nevada State College (NSC) School of Nursing and Clark County School District partnership. The center provides healthcare to low income and underserved children. School children ages 4-19 are able to visit the SBHC for primary and acute care, management of chronic illnesses, asthma management, wellness counseling, treatment of injuries, routine physical examinations, and pre-participation sports physicals. Patients are seen from Basic High School, surrounding Henderson schools as well as schools in Las Vegas. Uninsured and underinsured children without pediatric providers are also referred to the center for asthma care.
It is truly an honor for the Dr. Joel and Carol Bower School-Based Health Center to be a participating organization in the Dial 4 A Smile telethon event, said Sherrilyn Coffman, director of the SBHC and associate dean of the NSC School of Nursing. We appreciate the support of both 8 News NOW and our community.
The telethon phone lines will be open Sept. 10-12 from 4-6:45 p.m. Individuals interested in participating can call the telethon number, 702-650-1101, visit 8newsnow.com, or follow 8 News Now Community Pride on Facebook for additional information.
Telethon to support children’s clinics, Dr. Joel and Carol Bower School-Based Health Center, Sept. 10-12
