LBC Echo Fall 2022 - 14

By Jessica Whitmore, MA, Adjunct Professor, Communication & Media Arts Department
dentist visit can often bring dread and anxiety. Now imagine being new to the area,
being young and not speaking English, knowing your teeth are in pain yet you
don't quite understand what's about to happen. Instead of the necessary dental
intervention care, your mouth stays tightly shut as providers unsuccessfully
try to help you. You leave in pain with even more anxiety for the next appointment.
Your providers walk away frustrated in not being able to provide the necessary care,
knowing it will make a difference.
This was one all-too-common situation at Hope Within Ministries, a faith-based
organization in Elizabethtown, Pa., that is a free primary medical, dental and
counseling clinic for the uninsured. Since 2002, this care has been provided by
volunteer licensed providers to those without insurance and at 250% of the
federal poverty level or less within Lancaster, Dauphin or Lebanon counties.
Clients often include refugee families.
'Simple solution under our noses'
That child who didn't receive the necessary dental care because of fear,
anxiety, cost or other barriers didn't leave the mind of Darice Baird,
Administrative Assistant at Hope Within. In fact, she was determined to
find a way to lessen the anxiety of dental clients, of all ages, as spots are
limited, waiting lists are maintained, and only 12 dental appointments
are scheduled a month.
That's when she remembered, " We have this great resource of LBC
counselors. " In 2019, Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary &
Graduate School became involved with Hope Within through placing
its counseling students for practicums and internships at the
clinic, under the supervision of staff and faculty within LBC's
Counseling & Social Work Department.
After Baird and Anne Marie McAlester, Executive Director
at Hope Within, discussed the dental anxiety concerns
and the possibility of connecting with LBC student
counselors, they expanded the conversation with LBC
| Capital Assistant Professor Praveen Rudra, who is
involved with the college's Counseling & Care Center and
coordinates logistics related to LBC's student counseling
presence within behavioral and nonprofit organizations.
The conversations then involved another Counseling &
Social Work Assistant Professor, Dr. Day Butcher.
Nyasha Paulus ('23), left, and Caitlin Fitzgerald
('23) were two LBC | Capital students who
assisted in counseling services at Hope
Within Ministries.
LBC student counselors have served clients with a variety
of counseling needs through Hope Within for several
years. But as a result of these conversations, students
have expanded their services to be a support before and
during dental appointments. Rudra praised seeing the
results of this interaction, leading to the expansion of
LBC's counseling services at Hope Within.
" It's such a huge blessing, " says Baird. " It made a profound
difference, and it's beautiful to see. " The students have
played with young clients as they wait to be seen and even
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LBC Echo Fall 2022

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