Since 1998, the N. C. Healthy Start Foundation and the N. C. Division of Public Health have raised awareness about the Health Check (Medicaid) and N. C. Health Choice insurance programs for children. Both programs offer a comprehensive package of benefits, including dental, vision and hearing care to those under 21 years old. With health insurance, parents can establish a medical home such as a doctors office, community clinic or local health department and avoid unnecessary and costly visits to the ER.

In Modesto, Dr. David George was known for his community work, his efforts to support high school athletics and the dental care he provided on medical missions abroad.

Dr. George was born in Mill Valley. The University of California at Berkeley graduate attended dental school at the University of California at San Francisco. He served as an Army officer in Germany from 1967-70. He came to Modesto in the 1970s to start a dental practice and raise a family.

Even people gainfully employed sought help; they simply did not bring home enough to take care of their basic needs.

Tim Hockett is executive director of Olympic Community Action Programs -- OlyCAP -- which manages the Peninsula Home Fund for the Peninsula Daily News.

With the assistance of generous grants and private donations, Dental Aid provided the market value equivalent of more than usd. 1. 5 million in subsidized oral health care to our patients during 2008.

The oral health services grants are designed to address the connection between oral health and general health, especially the link with chronic oral infections and diabetes, osteoporosis, heart and lung conditions. "The Childrens Dental Center of Greater Los Angeles has successfully treated, screened, and educated more than 227,000 underserved children since 1995," said President and CEO Dennis Young of the Center. "Kaiser Permanentes oral health grant will enable our Center to increase our service hours, see more patients, and hire additional staff. " Untreated dental disease results in pain, infection, dysfunction, distraction from learning, and may inhibit general growth and development because of associated nutritional liabilities.

Health care: Will the facility administer medications and monitor nutritional needs Can your loved one keep his or her personal physician Does the facility provide transportation to doctor and dental appointments

Since 2005, the gaming operations have contributed usd. 6,490,000 toward health care in the community and another usd. 914,500 to educational programs, scholarships and summer classes.

Since 2006, large- and small-scale donations totaling usd. 658,600 have been made to charitable causes and non-profit agencies, including the Akwesasne Food Basket Fund and Mountain of Toys Christmas drive ( usd. 30,000), a fishing derby, the Akwesasne Boys and Girls Club ( usd. 1,355,000), the annual ironworkers festival, golf tournaments, sports and youth programs ( usd. 400,000) and Fourth of July fireworks displays.

Once patients are discharged from mental hospitals, they are referred to a rehabilitation center for individual treatment plans. Safe Entry clients say the program is different from other day programs because it teaches them how to deal with their mental illnesses, assists them getting back to work, provides computer tutoring, teaches communication skills and unifies them with their families. Safe Entrys mentally disabled also go on field trips and exercise together.

MARGARET WARNER: Next, the consequences for public health care programs from the big budget woes facing states like California. Betty Ann Bowser has our Health Unit report. The unit is a partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.