Mobile dental clinic to increase Delaware patients' access to care
Connections Community Support Programs Inc. and Barclays Bank Delaware unveiled a fully equipped mobile dental clinic during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 19 at Barclays’ office in Wilmington.
The 38-foot vehicle, made possible by a $310,000 low-interest loan from Barclays to Connections, will be used to provide comprehensive dental services, including cleanings, digital X-rays, fillings, root canals, extractions and dentures. The clinic has two treatment rooms and will be staffed full time by a dentist and hygienist.
The clinic will increase access to dental care for 1,500 patients held at work-release and probation violation centers run by Delaware’s Department of Correction, where Connections is the medical provider. The clinic will also provide increased access to treatment for thousands of people without dental insurance who receive services at Connections’ other locations statewide that provide residential services, and primary and behavioral health care, as well as addiction treatment services.
Clinton W. Walker, managing director at Barclays, said the bank is pleased to finance the project. Walker is a past board chairman for Connections, whose current chairman is Barclays’ general counsel Lawrence Drexler.
“Barclays has a proud heritage of giving back to the communities where we live and work,” Walker said. “Each year, more than 97 percent of our colleagues in the Delaware region give back through volunteer activities and fundraising in support of many wonderful nonprofits and charitable causes. The loan with Connections Community Support Programs Inc. serves as another example of our commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others.”
Cathy Devaney McKay, president, founder and CEO of Connections, said the mobile dental clinic is yet another example of Connections providing assistance to Delaware’s neediest residents. Connections is a nonprofit agency that provides a comprehensive array of healthcare, housing and employment opportunities that help individuals and families achieve their own goals and enhance communities.
“The mobile clinic will help fill a void in Delaware’s medical safety net by bringing critical dental care to so many people,” McKay said. “We applaud Barclays for stepping up and helping finance an endeavor identified in our recent strategic plan.”
For more information, go to www.connectionscsp.org or call 866-477-5345.
