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Smile for a Lifetime Foundation

A Good Idea

Description

Smile for a Lifetime Foundation (S4L) is a charitable non-profit organization that provides orthodontic services to underserved children with orthodontic needs. Launched in 2008, S4L was originally founded as a local program in Arkansas and became a national program. S4L partners with local chapters and orthodontists who provide pro bono work, and with companies such as Ormco, which donates all supplies for treating the children, and Televox, which provides marketing. Each local chapter has a Board of Directors who selects patients for treatment from submitted applications by eligible children.

Goal / Mission

S4L strives to create self-confidence and change the lives of underprivileged children by providing orthodontic services at no cost.

Results / Accomplishments

In the past three years, since expanding to a national program, the foundation has served hundreds of children in 35 states in the past three years since it has become national. Its goal for the next five years is to serve 1000-1500 children in all 50 states and Canada. For more information on local chapters, please visit the Locate Orthodontist tab of S4L's website, as linked below.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Smile for a Lifetime Foundation
Primary Contact
Michelle Von Fange
National Executive Director
4565 Hilton Parkway, Suite 203
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
info@S4L.org
http://www.s4l.org/
Topics
Health / Oral Health
Health / Health Care Access & Quality
Health / Children's Health
Organization(s)
Smile for a Lifetime Foundation
Date of implementation
2008
Location
USA
For more details
http://www.s4l.org/LocateOrthodontists/tabid/154/D...
Target Audience
Children
Additional Audience
Low-Income
Submitted By
Smile for a Lifetime: Sonoma County

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A Good Idea meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program funding source, program implementation steps and outcomes.
  2. The program evaluation is limited to descriptive measure(s) of success/accomplishment (i.e., program participation rates, number of services/education sessions/radio messages provided). Note: oftentimes, the program has been newly implemented and a program evaluation has not yet been conducted. Programs that have not yet been evaluated, but which show promise in improving health or quality of life, are classified as Good Ideas until an evaluation is conducted.