Smiles Change Lives … Helping Families With The Cost Of Braces & Changing Lives One Smile At A Time
Smiles Change Lives is proud to partner with foster care agencies across the country to make our program available to all qualified children in the foster care system. By getting braces through SCL, children in foster care are able to enjoy increased self-esteem and greater confidence for the future.
To apply to our orthodontic program, a child in foster care must meet the following requirements:
- Be 7-18 years of age;
- Have “good” oral hygiene and no unfilled cavities;
- Have a moderate to severe need for braces;
- Not be wearing braces currently; and
- Be willing to pay the non-refundable $30 (USD) application fee and the non-refundable $650 (USD) required financial investment (per child).
Foster parents or agencies that are applying for a child do not need to submit proof of income.
SCL does require copies of the child’s state medical card and medical consent to show who has authorization to consent to treatment for the child.
The child you are applying for should be in a long-term placement or expected to be in the same area for the next 2-3 years in order to complete treatment with the assigned provider. Unfortunately, if the child moves before treatment concludes, SCL cannot be responsible for locating a new treatment provider and the child may have to have their braces removed early.
SCL understands that foster agencies in different states, and even different counties, operate differently. Generally, the person authorized to consent to medical treatment on behalf of the child (e.g., case worker) should complete and sign all sections indicated for a parent/legal guardian in the application (along with the child, where indicated). In addition, if the child is in the care of a foster parent, the foster parent needs to initial a second copy of the program rules and guidelines as they will be responsible for taking the child to appointments and helping them maintain good oral hygiene during treatment.
Because of the different parties that will need to sign the application, it may be easiest to download and print the application (including a second copy of the program rules and guidelines page) to be completed by the appropriate individuals and mailed back to SCL. However, you can complete the application online, just be sure that you upload the second set of initialed program rules and guidelines with the state medical card and medical consent documentation.
If you have a question, please email info@smileschangelives.org. We respond to emails sent to this address within 3 working days.
In order to best serve our overwhelming number of applicant families, SCL operates with limited phone hours Tuesday through Friday, 1:00PM to 3:00PM CST. If you have additional questions about the program, please call or leave a voicemail during these hours at 816.421.4949.