SSM Health has awarded a $10,000 community health grant to the Fond du Lac County Health Department’s Save a Smile Dental Program to help expand access to oral health services for children and families facing barriers to care in Fond du Lac County.
The funding will support a new initiative that integrates dental screenings and referral coordination into select Women, Infants and Children (WIC) appointments.
The Save a Smile Dental Program works with local dental providers to connect children enrolled in BadgerCare with preventive and restorative dental services. The program removes financial and logistical barriers to care while improving oral health outcomes for underserved children throughout the county.
In 2025, Save a Smile coordinated 1,090 dental appointments, provided 175 on-site dental cleanings and completed 677 oral health assessments, serving 638 children who otherwise may have faced challenges accessing dental care.
Through the new WIC partnership, families are able to receive dental screenings and referrals during select WIC appointments, reducing the need for multiple visits, and helping connect children to preventive dental care earlier. The coordinated approach is designed to address transportation, scheduling, and financial barriers that often prevent families from receiving timely care.
“This program allows families to receive care closer to home and helps ensure children receive the preventive dental services they need to stay healthy,” according to Stephanie Hopf, Save a Smile Dental Program coordinator. “By integrating dental services into appointments families are already attending, we can identify oral health concerns earlier and make it easier for children to get connected with care.”
The program’s goals include providing dental screenings to at least 300 children through WIC appointments and reducing missed dental assessment appointments from 30 percent to 15 percent by the end of 2026. Progress will be tracked through referral completion rates and appointment attendance data.
The gift also will help address increased demand for dental services as more children are screened and connected to care. Funding will support treatment for unmet dental needs identified through the program, including urgent dental services for children and families with limited financial resources.
“Improving access to preventive and restorative dental care is an important part of building healthier communities,” says Kim Mueller, Fond du Lac County Public Health officer. “This partnership with SSM Health strengthens our ability to reach families who may otherwise face barriers to receiving care and helps ensure children have the opportunity to achieve better oral and overall health.”
The initiative aligns with SSM Health’s Community Health Improvement Plan priority to expand access to care for underserved populations and supports broader community efforts to improve health outcomes across Fond du Lac County.
“Access to dental care is an important part of overall health, yet many families face barriers that make it difficult to receive preventive services,” according to Laura Nakielski, SSM Health Community Health manager. “By supporting the Save a Smile program and its partnership with WIC, we are helping connect children and families with care earlier, reducing barriers to treatment and creating healthier futures for our community.”
For more information about the Save a Smile Dental Program, contact the Fond du Lac County Health Department at 920-929-3090.
Representatives from SSM Health and the Fond du Lac County Health Department celebrate a $10,000 community health gift supporting the Save a Smile Dental Program’s new partnership with WIC to expand access to dental care for children and families in Fond du Lac County. Laura Nakielski (second from left), and Jodi Dietzel (right), SSM Health leaders, are shown with Stephanie Hopf and Kim Mueller with the Fond du Lac County Health Department.
Date posted: August 11, 2026