In late 1999, Dr. Kris Volcheck, CEO of Brighter Way Institute, started preparations for the state's only dental clinic for the homeless. This was a solution to the problem he had found while working at the Central Arizona Shelter Services for the devastating effects homelessness can have on an individual's oral health.
Working in collaboration with the Arizona State Office of Oral Health and the Maricopa County Healthcare for the Homeless Clinic, the CASS Dental Clinic opened to its first patient on Jan 1, 2001. In the first year, 20 volunteer dentists, 15 hygienists, and 20 dental labs provided service in the two-chair dental trailer.
Four years later, Dr. Volcheck completed the design, secured funding, and oversaw relocation of the clinic to an eight-chair facility located on the Human Services Campus in downtown Phoenix. It is presently one of the largest volunteer-driven dental clinics in the nation, providing comprehensive dental care to homeless veterans, adults and children. There are many hundreds of volunteers and dental students now working at the clinic to serve the oral health needs of the homeless community.
On March 1, 2007 the CASS Dental Program for Homeless Children on the Human Services Campus was opening. The Children's program utilized the same successful model of dental volunteers and students providing treatment to the homeless children.
In June of 2010, with funding from the Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation, the Murphy Kids Dental Clinic was launched. The clinic served 2,200 impoverished children in the Murphy elementary school district.
On July 1st, 2014, The Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation funded the opening of the Parsons Center for Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics at the site of the Murphy Kids Dental Clinic. The Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation has continued to support the efforts to treat these uninsured children. The Center provides comprehensive care to over 15,000 impoverished, mostly Hispanic children each year.
In collaboration with Canyon State Academy, BWI formed the Canyon State Academy Dental Center for Foster Children. This center now operates under the auspices of Canyon State.
On July 1st, 2016, Brighter Way Institute (BWI) was incorporated as a nonprofit 501 (c)(3). This new organization, with Dr. Volcheck as the CEO, took the three clinics that formerly belonged to CASS, and formed an organization that would continue to focus on treating the oral health needs of our underserved communities.
In 2016, Dr. Volcheck launched the BWI Implant Training Center. Dentists from throughout the U.S. travel to Phoenix to volunteer and provide patients, primarily veterans, with no-cost implants and no-cost implant-supported dentures.
Dr. Volcheck partnered with United Healthcare to form BWI’s first mobile dental unit serving Title I schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, and gay homeless youth and young adults at One-N-Ten.
The Brighter Way United Healthcare 'Tooth Bus' begins screenings at all 33 Metro Phoenix Boys and Girls Clubs. Also, Brighter Way's Team begins to manage the practice of The Boys and Girls Clubs Dental Clinic.
Brighter Way celebrates its 20th Anniversary at Legacy Place where the BWI Board honors Dr. Volcheck for 30 years working with the homeless and establishes the Brighter Way Endowment.
Brighter Way Dental Center at the Human Services Campus is renamed the Diane and Bruce Halle Brighter Way Dental Center which then becomes an inaugural site for the first Jacksonville University Comprehensive Oral Implantology Residency program.
Brighter Way Institute is comprised of the Diane & Bruce Halle Brighter Way Dental Center, Parsons Center for Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, and Brighter Way United Healthcare Mobile Dental Center that was donated by United Healthcare in 2018. BWI also continues to manage the dental practice at Boys and Girls Club Dental Clinic.
In late 1999, Dr. Kris Volcheck, CEO of Brighter Way Institute, started preparations for the state's only dental clinic for the homeless. This was a solution to the problem he had found while working at the Central Arizona Shelter Services for the devastating effects homelessness can have on an individual's oral health.
Working in collaboration with the Arizona State Office of Oral Health and the Maricopa County Healthcare for the Homeless Clinic, the CASS Dental Clinic opened to its first patient on Jan 1, 2001. In the first year, 20 volunteer dentists, 15 hygienists, and 20 dental labs provided service in the two-chair dental trailer.
Four years later, Dr. Volcheck completed the design, secured funding, and oversaw relocation of the clinic to an eight-chair facility located on the Human Services Campus in downtown Phoenix. It is presently one of the largest volunteer-driven dental clinics in the nation, providing comprehensive dental care to homeless veterans, adults and children. There are many hundreds of volunteers and dental students now working at the clinic to serve the oral health needs of the homeless community.
On March 1, 2007 the CASS Dental Program for Homeless Children on the Human Services Campus was opening. The Children's program utilized the same successful model of dental volunteers and students providing treatment to the homeless children.
In June of 2010, with funding form the Bruce and Halle Foundation, the Murphy Kids Dental Clinic was launched. The clinic served 2,200 impoverished children in the Murphy elementary school district.
On July 1st, 2014, The Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation funded the opening of the Parsons Center for Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics at the site of the Murphy Kids Dental Clinic. The Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation has continued to support the efforts to treat these uninsured children. The Center provides comprehensive care to over 15,000 impoverished, mostly Hispanic children each year.
In collaboration with Canyon State Academy, BWI formed the Canyon State Academy Dental Center for Foster Children. This center now operates under the auspices of Canyon State.
In 2016, Dr. Volcheck launched the BWI Implant Training Center. Dentists from throughout the U.S. travel to Phoenix to volunteer and provide patients, primarily veterans, with no-cost implants and no-cost implant-supported dentures.
On July 1st, 2016, Brighter Way Institute (BWI) was incorporated as a nonprofit 501 (c)(3). This new organization, with Dr. Volcheck as the CEO, took the three clinics that formerly belonged to CASS, and formed an organization that would continue to focus on treating the oral health needs of our underserved communities.
Dr. Volcheck partnered with United Healthcare to form BWI’s first mobile dental unit serving Title I schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, and gay homeless youth and young adults at One-N-Ten.
The Brighter Way United Healthcare 'Tooth Bus' begins screenings at all 33 Metro Phoenix Boys and Girls Clubs. Also, Brighter Way's Team begins to manage the practice of The Boys and Girls Clubs Dental Clinic.
Brighter Way celebrates its 20th Anniversary at Legacy Place where the BWI Board honors Dr. Volcheck for 30 years working with the homeless and establishes the Brighter Way Endowment.
Brighter Way Dental Center at the Human Services Campus is renamed the Diane and Bruce Halle Brighter Way Dental Center which then becomes an inaugural site for the first Jacksonville University Comprehensive Oral Implantology Residency program.
Brighter Way Institute is comprised of the Diane & Bruce Halle Brighter Way Dental Center, Parsons Center for Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, and Brighter Way United Healthcare Mobile Dental Center that was donated by United Healthcare in 2018. BWI also continues to manage the dental practice at Boys and Girls Club Dental Clinic.
