9/1/2007 9:17:00 PM
SAVE-Prescott helps children in need
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| Dr. Bobby Raber with Kidzaam dentistry in Prescott works with Pavan Patel, 9, who is the first child to receive dental work through SAVE-Prescott. |
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PRESCOTT - About seven months ago, 9-year-old Pavan Patel began having constant pain in his mouth, but his family could not find a dentist to fix the problem.
Pavan is mildly autistic and his parents do not have dental insurance. In addition, they cannot receive state aid to help their son. After Pavan's baby teeth fell out, new ones began growing in sideways. One tooth formed on the roof of his mouth.
"He can't close his mouth all the time," said his father, Ajay Patel.
In addition, Ajay said his son hits the side of his mouth and his top lip whenever the pain kicks in. Yet, because of his special condition, Pavan's parents could not find a doctor to treat him.
Then one day this school year, Pavan's special education teacher at Miller Valley Elementary School told Pavan's parents about a new program called SAVE-Prescott. Through this program, local dentist Bobby Raber of Kidzaam gives Pavan the dental treatment he needs - for free.
"It's wonderful. It's a good thing because nobody has that much time or patience (to treat Pavan)," Ajay said. "This doctor is very nice to him."
SAVE, which stands for Students Against Violence Everyday, is a program co-founded by Prescott residents John Vallentine, a former broadcast journalist, and lawyer Chris Kottke.
The program uses the volunteer work from local health care professionals, primarily in the mental health sector, and supplies at-risk or in-need children with free services, before something catastrophic happens. It also helps kids who lived through a trauma, such as the sudden death of a classmate or friend.
The network begins in the classrooms with the teachers who can spot students who may need help.
Kottke said the original intent of SAVE was to work mainly with mental health professionals. However, throughout the past few months, SAVE, which jumpstarted with the Prescott Unified School District at the beginning of the school year, evolved to include other professionals, such as attorneys, dentists, and family doctors.
Pavan is the first child to receive dental work through SAVE's efforts.
"The program is absolutely dynamic and what we found in the short time we've been here, volunteerism has no limits," Kottke said. "We have people from all walks of life saying, 'How can I participate?'"
In fact, so many people want to volunteer their services that SAVE-Prescott is considering hiring either a part-time or full-time manager to help coordinate it all.
Raber first heard about the program through fellow dentist, Mark Redford.
"(At Kidzaam), my motto is kids don't choose to be born into a family who can't afford dental insurance," Raber said. "These children improve in tons of different aspects once their oral health is intact."
Currently, Kottke said about 50 volunteers have signed up for SAVE-Prescott, most of them from the mental health industry. In addition, SAVE has referred four children, including Pavan, for help.
"It's a good program because now we are relaxed (that) someone is taking care of (Pavan) in his dental work," Ajay said. "Through the SAVE program, it's happened."
For more information on SAVE-Prescott, call the PUSD district offices at 445-5400 and ask for Superintendent Kevin Kapp's office.
Contact the reporter at slopatin@prescottaz.com
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Posted: Sunday, September 02, 2007
Article comment by:
Ben Harper
This is a program that helps all the children. A child should not be made to suffer such as this child did. I know it's hard to believe but the children of today will be running our country in 20 to 30 years. The people need to take care of our future leaders. Would you not help your child or grand child? I sure would help mine or any child.
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