Wheeling Township Helps Ease Costly Dental Expenses for Residents

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – Wheeling Township is reminding the community of an important program that provides qualifying residents affordable and convenient dental services through the Mobile Dental Clinic.  In 2003, Wheeling Township partnered with Northwest Community Hospital to secure a grant to purchase the mobile unit.  The clinic is a traveling, not-for-profit clinic that provides necessary preventative, restorative, and educational care to residents who do not have access due to financial barriers. Surrounding Townships were soon invited to join the partnership and bring the clinic to their communities as well.

Wheeling Township officials, recognizing a need to fill a gap for families not able to afford dental services, budgets $25,000 annually to subsidize the cost of care to its residents.  Elk Grove, Palatine and Schaumburg Townships also fund the Mobile Dental Clinic so that it visits their communities 3 – 4 times per month. All residents who meet financial guidelines qualify for services and pay just $30 per visit.

“Many residents are struggling to pay the rent and put food on the table for their families.  Non-emergency dental visits are often cut from family budgets because of the cost,” said Dr. Michael Schroeder, Supervisor of Wheeling Township.  “Many dentists, including myself, along with dental students and hygienists, volunteer at the clinic and provide a significant amount of support to the dedicated clinical team employed by Northwest Community Hospital”.

“The downed economy has hit many families hard and being able to keep up with everyday expenses can be difficult,” said Bryan Smith, Executive Director of the Township Officials of Illinois.  “In times of need it is important to know that there is a support system in place.”

To learn more about this successful program, or other successful township programs across Illinois, please visit: www.toi.org.

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The Township Officials of Illinois The Township Officials of Illinois (TOI) serves Illinois’ 1,432 townships, offering information on proper government procedures and in support of strong township government. TOI sponsors educational meetings for township officials, and is proactive with township-related legislation in the Illinois General Assembly and U.S. Capitol. TOI promotes the importance of townships in Illinoisans’ lives, mails the monthly magazine Township Perspective to its members, communicates through the TOI website and publishes informational handbooks for township officials.