Parsons Center for Pediatric Dentistry at Murphy to Expand Services and Accommodate More Districts.

The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation Continues Partnership With Central Arizona Shelter Services To Serve More Children At Its Pediatric Dental Center

Central Arizona Shelter Services, Inc. (CASS) was recently awarded a second grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation in support of expanding services at the Parsons Center for Pediatric Dentistry at Murphy (Parsons Center). In Arizona, more than 40 percent of low-income children lack access to dental care and in the primary district they serve, the Murphy School District, nearly 50 percent of children live at or below the federal poverty level.

“Access to dental care is something all children deserve, regardless of background or insurance status,” said entrepreneur and philanthropist Bob Parsons. “Hundreds of at-risk children in Phoenix will receive quality care at The Parsons Center for Pediatric Dentistry.”

A unique model, the Parsons Center was designed to treat both insured and uninsured children. During the past year however, the number of uninsured patients has been much higher than expected. The recent $490,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation will not only allow the clinic to continue serving children in need in the Murphy district but also expand its services to include children from other school districts in south Phoenix.

“We are thrilled that more children will have access to ongoing dental care and one-on-one oral health education, thanks to the generosity of Bob and Renee Parsons,” said CASS Dental Director Dr. Kris Volcheck, DDS, MBA. “We can now also provide more advanced treatment such as root canals, braces and surgery to repair cleft lips and palates, impacted teeth and other congenital or trauma-induced malformations.”

The Parsons Center is the first nonprofit pediatric specialty clinic in Maricopa County, providing dental care to children who are not eligible for Medicaid coverage, as well as those with AHCCCS-only coverage. Children insured through the state’s Medicaid program often exhibit the same degree of poor oral health as children who are uninsured due to the lack of dentists who accept AHCCCS coverage.

“Poor oral health is an epidemic among children living in poverty and we are happy to help curb that cycle by providing desperately needed dental care to underserved children in Phoenix,” added Renee Parsons.

Expansions at the Parsons Center will also allow for additional on-site orthodontic and oral surgery services in addition to the full array of preventative hygiene treatments and restorative care, such as cleanings and fillings, already provided. Children with complex dental care needs are referred to the Parsons Center from other community-based pediatric dental clinics around the Valley. The Parsons Center is expected to serve 15,000 unique children by 2017. To learn more, visit murphykidsdentalclinic.org.