As many companies look to raise their corporate profiles in the community, one insurer has embraced a sensitive subject that is not only building public goodwill, but self-esteem among women who have been victims of domestic violence.
As many companies look to raise their corporate profiles in the community, one insurer has embraced a sensitive subject that is not only building public goodwill, but self-esteem among women who have been victims of domestic violence.
When a woman who has survived domestic violence looks in the mirror and sees her injured face, it is easy for her to feel hopeless. Green Shield Canada has stepped up and helped in the funding of a not-for-profit program, Restoring Smiles, building better smiles and a better business profile too.
In addition to low self-esteem, a victim of domestic violence who has suffered facial injury may have trouble chewing because of issues with her teeth, or she may experience difficulty sleeping, eating, and speaking because of jaw pain. Unfortunately, the cost of dental care is rarely covered by social services, and as a result, it can be extremely difficult for survivors to get the dental care they need.
Located in Toronto — and the only one of its kind in Ontario — the Dr. Borna Meisami Foundation operates Restoring Smiles, a not-for-profit program that provides free dental treatment to female survivors of domestic abuse who are living in the shelter system and are not covered by other dental programs.
“While survivors of domestic violence have access to medical support and services of various kinds, dentistry is not currently offered as a support service in Ontario,” says Dr. Tina Meisami, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and founder of the Dr. Borna Meisami Foundation. “We wanted to do something within our own skills to help other women exit the cycle of abuse and treat ramifications such as poor oral and overall health.”
Funding from Green Shield Canada’s Community Giving Program has enabled Restoring Smiles to double its number of patients. In addition, the grant will allow the program to introduce support for patients facing employment barriers.
And for Green Shield, it is an excellent opportunity to display its social responsibility too.
“At GSC, corporate social responsibility is about the way we integrate economic, social, and environmental considerations into our decision-making processes and day-to-day operations,” says Steve Bradie, president and CEO of GSC.
Restoring Smiles’ newest project is to develop one staff position each year for former patients to work as spokespeople and administrators. Through these positions, the project aims to not only restore ailing dental health, but also to provide social and economic opportunities and a chance for patients to rebuild their lives.
Restoring Smiles provides the full scope of dental treatment, including fillings, crowns, veneers, bleaching, cleanings, root canals, dental implants, dentures, orthodontic treatment, jaw and facial reconstructive surgery, and surgical and nonsurgical scar revision.
By providing dental treatment, the goal of Restoring Smiles is to eliminate pain, restore function and proper speech, and to some degree, alleviate the emotional trauma caused by domestic violence. Since the program began in 2010, the project has snowballed into a thriving organization with over 13 female service providers and dozens of patients.
To date, the project has provided over $150,000 worth of free dental treatment.
When a woman who has survived domestic violence looks in the mirror and sees her injured face, it is easy for her to feel hopeless. Green Shield Canada has stepped up and helped in the funding of a not-for-profit program, Restoring Smiles, building better smiles and a better business profile too.
In addition to low self-esteem, a victim of domestic violence who has suffered facial injury may have trouble chewing because of issues with her teeth, or she may experience difficulty sleeping, eating, and speaking because of jaw pain. Unfortunately, the cost of dental care is rarely covered by social services, and as a result, it can be extremely difficult for survivors to get the dental care they need.
Located in Toronto — and the only one of its kind in Ontario — the Dr. Borna Meisami Foundation operates Restoring Smiles, a not-for-profit program that provides free dental treatment to female survivors of domestic abuse who are living in the shelter system and are not covered by other dental programs.
“While survivors of domestic violence have access to medical support and services of various kinds, dentistry is not currently offered as a support service in Ontario,” says Dr. Tina Meisami, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and founder of the Dr. Borna Meisami Foundation. “We wanted to do something within our own skills to help other women exit the cycle of abuse and treat ramifications such as poor oral and overall health.”
Funding from Green Shield Canada’s Community Giving Program has enabled Restoring Smiles to double its number of patients. In addition, the grant will allow the program to introduce support for patients facing employment barriers.
And for Green Shield, it is an excellent opportunity to display its social responsibility too.
“At GSC, corporate social responsibility is about the way we integrate economic, social, and environmental considerations into our decision-making processes and day-to-day operations,” says Steve Bradie, president and CEO of GSC.
Restoring Smiles’ newest project is to develop one staff position each year for former patients to work as spokespeople and administrators. Through these positions, the project aims to not only restore ailing dental health, but also to provide social and economic opportunities and a chance for patients to rebuild their lives.
Restoring Smiles provides the full scope of dental treatment, including fillings, crowns, veneers, bleaching, cleanings, root canals, dental implants, dentures, orthodontic treatment, jaw and facial reconstructive surgery, and surgical and nonsurgical scar revision.
By providing dental treatment, the goal of Restoring Smiles is to eliminate pain, restore function and proper speech, and to some degree, alleviate the emotional trauma caused by domestic violence. Since the program began in 2010, the project has snowballed into a thriving organization with over 13 female service providers and dozens of patients.
To date, the project has provided over $150,000 worth of free dental treatment.
