Hundreds Of LAUSD Students To Receive Free Dental Care In South Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- With the goal of providing much needed dental services to children in South Los Angeles, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is providing free, comprehensive dental care to 150 qualifying families through a partnership with California Resources Corporation (CRC), Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC and the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA). Together they will host a free mobile dental clinic that provides vital dental services for up to 150 low-income middle school and elementary students per year over the next two years. The clinic's official kick-off took place at John Muir Middle School in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 20, 2018.  

"Partnering with USC, LAUSD and UTLA on this dental clinic is one way California Resources Corporation is helping improve quality of life in communities in South Los Angeles," said Todd Stevens, President and Chief Executive Officer of CRC. "With CRC's entire workforce and operations here in California, we are dedicated to promoting a vibrant, inclusive future for all Californians. Addressing basic dental care needs of local students and their families helps these future leaders of Los Angeles learn and thrive."

This years' dental clinic is scheduled from October 19-26, servicing approximately 120-150 students and their family members from John Muir Middle School in the South Los Angeles area. This dental clinic will also provide Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC residents with valuable clinical experience.   

According to the California Health Interview Survey by the Center for Health Policy Research at UC Los Angeles, dental problems keep California students out of class an estimated 874,000 days a year, costing schools nearly $30 million in lost attendance-based funding. As California  educator work hard to boost student achievement; dental conditions may hold underprivileged children back.

"Having spent the better part of my life in public education, I know well that ensuring children's health is an essential part to providing them with a solid education," LAUSD Board Member Dr. George J. McKenna said. "We are grateful to our partners at USC and California Resources Corporation for helping bring comprehensive dental care to so many families in our communities who will benefit tremendously."

Dental disease is at "epidemic" levels among California children, according to the U.S. Surgeon General, and low-income children are disproportionately affected. In September, USC conducted a thorough dental screening of more than 200 students at John Muir Middle School, which reflected that about 30 percent of those students had never seen a dentist before and needed dental care either immediately or very soon.  

This two-year agreement is the second of its kind between USC and CRC, who began a three year engagement in Kern County last year. CRC's multi-year commitment will help address the ongoing need for dental care for the most vulnerable in LAUSD. Students with the most critical needs will be receiving dental exams and services in a specially equipped mobile dental van. The dental screenings will also encourage families to visit their regular dentists and receive services. 

"No child should ever have to go without dental care," said Dean Avishai Sadan of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. "Providing treatment to underserved populations is one of the most powerful ways that dental professionals can help bridge the gap to dental healthcare, which is why community outreach has long been one of the basic tenets of an Ostrow dental education."

It is estimated that dental problems cause more than 16,000 absences a year across Los Angeles Unified School District schools — not only impacting children's academic achievement but also  compromising their parents' ability to maintain a job or receive a promotion, according to a July 2012 study of low-income children conducted by the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC.

"Our schools focus on what children need to succeed in their education and in life," said LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner. "Proper dental care is a core component of good health as well as an important factor in every child's readiness to learn and grow."

"The clinic is a great example of what can happen when our communities and our schools connect to provide critical wraparound health and social services to support students' learning,"  said UTLA & National Education Association Vice President Cecily Myart-Cruz. "We applaud USC for their support in investing in our schools with expansive dental care for students, and we look forward to more partnerships in the future."

About California Resources Corporation (CRC)
California Resources Corporation is the largest oil and natural gas exploration and production company in California on a gross-operated basis. The Company operates its world-class resource base exclusively within the State of California, applying integrated infrastructure to gather, process and market its production. Using advanced technology, California Resources Corporation focuses on safely and responsibly supplying affordable energy for California by Californians 

About the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC
Since 1897, the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC has educated thousands of the world's most talented and trusted dental professionals. Ostrow is an international leader in dental and craniofacial research and has served as a pioneer in serving populations who lack access to dental care. Outside of the U.S. military, Ostrow has the largest fleet of mobile dental clinics, which regularly provide treatment to underserved populations across Southern California. 

About Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)
Second largest in the nation, the Los Angeles Unified School District enrolls more than 640,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The District covers 710 square miles, and includes Los Angeles, as well as all or parts of 31 smaller municipalities, plus several unincorporated sections of Los Angeles County.

About United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) UTLA is the nation's second-largest teachers' union local, represents more than 35,000 teachers and health & human services professionals who work in the Los Angeles Unified School District and in charter schools.

MEDIA CONTACT: Christina Sanchez  
Milagro Strategy Group  
310 420 1135

SOURCE California Resources Corporation