Thousands of Uninsured Illinoisans benefit from event
Dr. Wayn Helge & Dr. Richard Holba relax between patients.
Mokena, IL- The Mission of Mercy launched its first event hosted by the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation (ISDS) on June 11th and 12th. Representative Renée Kosel (R-New Lenox) was in attendance on Saturday June 12th to visit with adults and children receiving treatment and care. Mission of Mercy was also visited by many local and state politicians. Located at the Interstate Center in the city of Bloomington, the event was estimated to have had over 1,500 uninsured or underinsured children and adults attend to receive free dental services.
Over 900 volunteers from across the state participated in the event to help provide families proper dental care. Volunteers used 93 portable dental units to assist patients with free basic care and also oral surgery. The event was funded through monetary and in-kind donations. According to the organization’s list of sponsors, major contributors include Delta Dental of Illinois, Patterson Dental, and Interstate Dental and the Illinois State Dental Society.
“This is such an incredibly important event,” said Rep. Kosel. “Oral care is vital to a person’s general health and every adult and child should have the opportunity for basic dental care.” Studies show that there is a positive correlation between poor oral health and heart disease, stroke, pre-term childbirth and even oral cancer.”
The purpose of the ISDS Foundation’s Mission of Mercy event was to educate people about the problems that Illinoisans are facing when trying to receive proper dental care. “More than 2.6 million Illinoisans are enrolled in state sponsored health insurance and two-thirds of them are children,” stated ISDS President Dr. Larry Osborne of Decatur. Furthermore, there is an increase in the enrollment for public aid but funding levels for oral health procedures have not increased in more than 30 years, according to a press release sent out by the Illinois State Dental Society.
Thousands of Uninsured Illinoisans benefit from event
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Mokena, IL- The Mission of Mercy launched its first event hosted by the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation (ISDS) on June 11th and 12th. Representative Renée Kosel (R-New Lenox) was in attendance on Saturday June 12th to visit with adults and children receiving treatment and care. Mission of Mercy was also visited by many local and state politicians. Located at the Interstate Center in the city of Bloomington, the event was estimated to have had over 1,500 uninsured or underinsured children and adults attend to receive free dental services.
Over 900 volunteers from across the state participated in the event to help provide families proper dental care. Volunteers used 93 portable dental units to assist patients with free basic care and also oral surgery. The event was funded through monetary and in-kind donations. According to the organization’s list of sponsors, major contributors include Delta Dental of Illinois, Patterson Dental, and Interstate Dental and the Illinois State Dental Society.
“This is such an incredibly important event,” said Rep. Kosel. “Oral care is vital to a person’s general health and every adult and child should have the opportunity for basic dental care.” Studies show that there is a positive correlation between poor oral health and heart disease, stroke, pre-term childbirth and even oral cancer.”
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The purpose of the ISDS Foundation’s Mission of Mercy event was to educate people about the problems that Illinoisans are facing when trying to receive proper dental care. “More than 2.6 million Illinoisans are enrolled in state sponsored health insurance and two-thirds of them are children,” stated ISDS President Dr. Larry Osborne of Decatur. Furthermore, there is an increase in the enrollment for public aid but funding levels for oral health procedures have not increased in more than 30 years, according to a press release sent out by the Illinois State Dental Society.
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State Rep. Kosel Participates in New Leadership Program
Offers input to young women leaders
As an active member of the Conference of Women Legislators in the Illinois General Assembly (“COWL”), Representative Renée Kosel (R-New Lenox) does as much as she can to help young women develop professional skills, political savvy and confidence. On June 11, 2010, she participated in the New Leadership Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago campus.
“NEW LeadershipTM is a non-partisan, week-long residential program for college women designed to increase women’s representation in all elements of public life, including elected office,” says the organization’s website. Participants, young college women from various universities across the state, collaborated and engaged in a two hour long mock hearing. Participants worked together in small groups to present a particular side of a controversial issue. This year’s topic discussed various ways to provide equal opportunities to students in public schools across the state. Rep. Kosel, along with three other women representatives, sat on a panel to provide discussion points and comments about each group’s presentation.
“This program is such a wonderful opportunity for young women,” said Rep. Kosel. “The topic that they chose to discuss is one that is incredibly relevant. Our state government is always investigating ways to provide our children with equal educational
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Opportunities, and this program allows for a mature and educated discussion about this important issue.”
The New Leadership programTM partnered with COWL, the Institute of Government and Public Affairs, and the University of Illinois. The New Leadership programTM is one that “…challenges our brightest students to think critically and creatively about public policy and encourages them to make a commitment to public leadership early in their careers.”
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