Fatima Ramos, a student at Wakefield Elementary School interrupted her study of multiplication tables this week to get her teeth cleaned at the Future Smiles in-school dental clinic spearheaded by UALR Children International. And she had someone at her side for moral support.

Arkansas First Lady Ginger Beebe took a tour of the dental clinic Tuesday and sat with Fatima as she went through the procedure. The full-service, in-school pediatric dental clinic – the only one of its kind in Arkansas – is funded through public and private sources, and coordinated by UALR Children International. It provides preventative and restorative services for children in seven elementary schools and two middle schools three days a week.

Beebe visited with the clinic dentist and dental hygiene students from UAMS Dental Hygiene Clinic. She also accepted a check for $5,000 for the clinic from representatives of the Union Pacific Foundation.

The clinic, led by UALR Children International, is the result of a collaboration of 12 organizations, which make up the Dental Action Team. This coalition includes the Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Delta Dental of Arkansas, Little Rock School District, UAMS, and Heart of Arkansas United Way.