News & Events

News: Our Own Oral Health Heroes

Senator Kevin Raye of Perry presents Maine Dental Access Coalition's 2009 Oral Health Heroes Award to Teres Alley and Sherri Camick (right) at a State House ceremony.
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This News was submitted: October 1, 2009

Elaine Cale, Executive Director of the Washington County Children’s Program (WCCP) is pleased to announce that the agency’s Oral Health Program will be the first program in the state to receive an Oral Health Hero award from the Maine Dental Access Coalition (MDAC).  Sarah Shed, staff to MDAC, announced, “The Maine Dental Access Coalition is delighted to recognize the many years of hard work and innovative thinking that Teresa and Sherri and the WCCP’s Oral Health Program have contributed to children’s health in Washington County.  They have been...pioneering in their efforts to put together a mobile dental office as well as in helping educate non-dental providers...”

WCCP’s Oral Health Coordinators, hygienists Teresa Alley and Sherri Camick, will accept the agency Oral Health Hero Award during a legislative breakfast at the State House in Augusta on February 26, 2009.  Teresa has been with the Oral Health Program at WCCP for 10 years and Sherri for 25 years.  Other recipients awarded will be Legislative Hero, Representative Lisa Miller of Somerville, and Individual Hero, Wendy Alpaugh DMD, a dentist of the Stonington area.

WCCP’s Oral Health Program has been bringing oral health care to children in Washington County for 34 years. In 2003, a mobile dental unit named the Tooth Ferry was created, allowing the staff to  drive to schools and childcares all over the county.  Nearly 800 children, who may not have otherwise  accessed preventative care, received clinical services on board the Tooth Ferry in 2008.

Gay Haroutunian, a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist from Steuben, has worked closely with the Washington County Children’s Program for years and in her nomination states, “They have delivered high quality care to so many children who most probably would not have had access to dental care otherwise.  These cheerful dental hygienists make oral health fun for children with puppets and age-appropriate activities.  They are warm and welcoming in their Tooth Ferry ... I have found it so helpful to have Teresa and Sherri available to answer questions and to consult with some of my little clients when I have concerns about their oral health.  These two are hard-working, well-trained, highly professional and competent, and are indeed Oral Health Heroes of Washington County and of Maine.  How fortunate we are to have them and their creative program in our needy area.”