A big thanks to Tyson foods for their generous donation!

The United Methodist Mexican-American Ministries (MAM) Community Care Centers and Health Clinics are non-profit service agencies in Western Kansas. MAM has been serving people of all races, colors and faiths since 1974. Today, MAM offers a comprehensive array of social, spiritual, educational and medical programs through Centers located in Garden City, Dodge City, Liberal, Ulysses, Johnson and Satanta, Kansas. Services are provided in English and Spanish.

Lifetime Smiles
Lifetime Smiles is a comprehensive oral health program designed to improve the health of children in Southwest Kansas by improving/expanding oral health education, decay prevention, and access to dental care. It was begun in 2000 in response to growing unmet oral health needs. Lifetime Smiles provides: 1) visual oral screenings by registered dental hygienists for school children along with assistance in securing necessary dental treatment: 2) community oral health education through media spots in English and Spanish; 3) oral health presentations in English and Spanish for community and school groups and through health fairs; 4) case management and facilitation for fluoride varnish clinics, dental sealant clinics, and volunteer treatment clinics; and 5) facilitation services for a community oral health coalition. The program was initiated by MAM in conjunction with the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The program is headquartered in Garden City, Kansas.

Visual oral screenings for children in 57 area public/private schools and pre-schools is conducted by an RDH and combined with referral, tracking, and assistance in accessing dental services. The project provides assistance in obtaining Medicaid, SCHIP, or dental insurance as well as case management, referral, and obtaining free or reduced-price care for children with no access. Regular fluoride varnish and sealant clinics are held for age-appropriate children, as well as incorporating fluoride varnish treatments into the protocol for well child clinic visits. The project designed an on-going newspaper and radio campaign in English and Spanish to provide oral health information for communities. Oral health presentations are conducted at schools, parent, and other groups as well as through health fairs. The Lifetime Smiles director facilitates an Oral Health Coalition that meets quarterly to share information on best practice and to work toward goals such as public water fluoridation. The project distributes toothbrushes, toothpaste, educational brochures, and other materials.

The target population is children age 3 – 12 with major barriers to dental access---language, lack of insurance, cultural---plus their families. Eligible target audience is the approximately 12,000 age-appropriate children and their families. Children are in approximately 50 schools and pre-schools in Southwest Kansas, plus their families. In the past two years, there were 19,089 visual oral screenings; 480 children received free/reduced fee dental treatment; 812 children received dental sealants and 927 children got fluoride varnishes; there were 253 group presentations; 50,000 toothbrushes and education items distributed; media campaign reached 70,000 people in English and Spanish; and Oral Health Coalition got the Garden City water supply fluoridated plus instituted “best practice” care.

Click here to see a slide show of pictures from Vacation Bible School.

The corporation is organized as a Christian ministry to persons of all races, colors, and faiths to provide such social, spiritual, educational, and health services.

We offer a wide variety of services, including a Family Practice Medical Clinic, Special Health Programs such as breast and cervical cancer initiatives, AIDS case management and oral health education, just to name a few. We also offer Social Service Programs that include food and clothing banks, Bibles and Christian materials, parenting classes, documentation assistance and volunteer income tax assistance. For more information on any of our services, please click on the links to the left.

Our organization enjoys the support of many individuals and organizations. United Methodist churches, including First U.M. Church in Garden City, Ulysses U.M. Church, First U.M. Church in Liberal, Satanta U.M. Church, Johnson U.M. Church, First U.M. Church in Dodge City. Also United Methodist Women, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the United Way and other foundations and grant makers enable our Care Centers and Health Clinics to provide necessities to deserving individuals. We also receive support from state and federal resources as well as gifts from individuals, civic clubs and organizations.

Through the Bushels of Love endowment campaign, contributions of cash, grain and/or a gift of livestock will feed, clothe, provide health care, medicine, and offer spiritual strength to people who are in desperate need of your help.

We are committed to Christ's work in the work, all services are provided without question of race, religion or status.

"Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an overflowing steam." Amos 5:24