ALBUQUERQUE — Utopia Mobile Care (UMC) announced it received a $28,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico’s (BCBSNM) Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® initiative. UMC plans to use the funding to provide dental services to the community at schools, health fairs and church events in Valencia and Bernalillo counties. UMC will also use the grant to purchase a vehicle to transport dental equipment.
“Utopia Mobile Care seeks to meet people where they are and to break the barrier of access to dental care,” said Darly Barkley, CEO of UMC. “This grant helps UMC provide mobile preventive dental care for those underinsured or uninsured in the communities we serve. We thank Blue Cross Blue Shield for making our service possible.”
The grant will help support the Happy Smiles Day program, which will provide dental health workshops in partnership with the BCBSNM Care Van. The Care Van assists in connecting Utopia dental services to community members in need. The program will provide access to oral screening and follow-up appointments, including services such as teeth cleaning, fluoride treatment, sealants and patient education.
“We are proud to support programs that provide access to dental care,” said Janice Torrez, BCBSNM president. “Practicing proper oral hygiene affects overall health, and UMC’s devotion to those in need helps keep children and families healthier.”
BCBSNM’s Healthy Kids, Healthy Families grant initiative is part of an ongoing commitment to invest in and partner with nonprofit organizations that offer sustainable, measurable programs in nutrition, physical activity, disease prevention and management, and supporting safe environments. UMC’s commitment to covering the cost of service and providing oral health education to prevent oral diseases such as periodontal disease and other oral-related diseases aligns with the vision of Healthy Kids, Healthy Families to improve the health of children and their families across New Mexico.
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About Utopia Mobile Care
Utopia Mobile Care was founded in 2020 to provide mobile preventive care to communities around New Mexico starting in Bernalillo and Valencia County.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico is one of the largest commercial health insurers in New Mexico with more than 700,000 New Mexicans carrying a Blue Cross and Blue Shield card. Since 1940, BCBSNM has been committed to promoting the health and wellness of its members and communities through accessible, cost-effective, quality health care. BCBSNM is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.