Frances Nelson was a significant figure in the history of the Champaign-Urbana community. In the 1940s when African-American children found themselves without a home, Ms. Nelson welcomed them with open arms and put a roof over their heads. She encouraged them to become outstanding members of the community.
A volunteer-staffed health center was created in the 60s to address the issue of high infant mortality in the African-American community. It has since transformed into a health center with staff physicians dedicated to providing primary health care to the underserved in our community. This health center was named for Frances Nelson when it moved into her former home in 1969.
In 2006, the Health Center moved to its current location on Bloomington Road in Champaign. Just five years later, in 2011, the Frances Nelson Dental Center opened in the same location. In 2012, ownership of both clinics was transferred to a local entity, Promise Healthcare.
Born from a grassroots effort to create a county public health department, SmileHealthy was started in 2002. With a public health mission and the flexibility of a small nonprofit, SmileHealthy would test and try new ways to deliver care to those who might otherwise go without. They added a mobile dental clinic program which now holds over 50 mobile clinic events a year, serves Champaign County Head Start with a permanent clinic in Rantoul, provides comprehensive education and case management, and even specialty care.
As part of the 50th Anniversary of the Frances Nelson Health Center, Promise Healthcare created the blog site to share essays, stories and images. You can find morehere. If you have something to add, send us anemail.
Reviews
Rating 2.6 out of 5 based on 22 reviews
Sort by
newest oldest highest lowestSabrina
a year ago
I called them when they opened because they're one of the few places in the Champaign area that take Medicaid and I had a toothache and didn't want to wait weeks-months to get in at Familia and they got me in immediately, the two ladies that I talked to on the phone were so nice. The nurses and the dentist that I saw (I believe it was Elizabeth Brito) were so incredibly nice as well! The process was very smooth and the wait times were very small/normal. The dentist ended up concluding that the roots were dead on one of my teeth and I needed a root canal or to have it pulled. She was very nice about it and told me they could pull it or I could have a root canal done and she gave me a referral for an endodontist because they don't do root canals there. I felt like everyone in there genuinely cared about my issues and health which is more than I can say for most of the dentists that I've been to over the years in Champaign.
Jabari Paris
2 years ago
My girlfriend had a appointment with two different times given for 10 am and 10:30 but they wanted her to be present 15 minutes before which would be 9:45 before they open we arrived right before 10:30 because we were trying to get in contact with the office to confirm the appointment time we get here and now they are saying the dentist can't see her because she said she had two other patients around 10:30 and 11 they were the ones that decided to book our appointment for Monday which is today why are we penalized for the miscommunication and over booking on there part totally unprofessional now they are telling us we have to wait until 11:30 a entire hour and a half after our appointment because they scheduled 3 people around the same time clearly lack of respect and they told us the extraction would be a couple hours and this is also after this same dentist office ignored her tooth ache last year saying nothing is wrong and now it has grown to a abscess they lied and said it was her wisdom tooth she is only here due to this place only accepting her insurance they aren't being reprimanded for their negligence
Anna Stasik
2 years ago
I was referred here for oral surgery as one of the only places in town that accepts medicaid. After calling several times and being hung up on I finally was able to make an appointment to get my wisdom teeth removed, and then they called and canceled on me because they were not able to remove them. When I asked why, they said that they do not actually have an oral surgeon, despite originally telling me otherwise. Just something to be aware of.
Rebecca S
2 years ago
My 6 year old had a tooth pulled yesterday. Extremely happy with the care he received. From the receptionist to the dental assistant to the dentist everyone was so nice. He was very scared but they put him at ease and let mommy hold his hand. He did great and they let him keep his tooth and he is showing it off to everyone! Thank you all so much!
Jayden Campbell
2 years ago
Most the staff were rude and weren't too considerate about my concerns. When you ask them a question about said concern, I was given a repetitive and rather rude response. Save your time I couldn't bother coming here.
Rebecca S
3 years ago
My 6 year old had a tooth pulled yesterday. Extremely happy with the care he received. From the receptionist to the dental assistant to the dentist everyone was so nice. He was very scared but they put him at ease and let mommy hold his hand. He did great and they let him keep his tooth and he is showing it off to everyone! Thank you all so much!
Jayden Campbell
3 years ago
Most the staff were rude and weren't too considerate about my concerns. When you ask them a question about said concern, I was given a repetitive and rather rude response. Save your time I couldn't bother coming here.
Ryan Hellman
3 years ago
Dr. Chang was very rude with our kids. The office personal was better but not real nice. Won't schedule follow up appts while there.
Sydney Keppler
3 years ago
Dr. Chang was absolutely awful with my kids. To the point they hate the dentist now! 1 star is too much for this office.
Joey Turner (joelarw)
3 years ago
Had an appointment here a couple weeks ago and the doctor as well as the hygienist were both very rude and unhelpful. Will not be returning.
Ryan Hellman
4 years ago
Dr. Chang was very rude with our kids. The office personal was better but not real nice. Won't schedule follow up appts while there.
Sydney Keppler
4 years ago
Dr. Chang was absolutely awful with my kids. To the point they hate the dentist now! 1 star is too much for this office.
Dan Holden
4 years ago
Hygienists were great. Dr Chang was rude and trying to give away business and rude. Maybe she needs to go somewhere else
Joey Turner (joelarw)
4 years ago
Had an appointment here a couple weeks ago and the doctor as well as the hygienist were both very rude and unhelpful. Will not be returning.
Finn
4 years ago
I had multiple extractions done, and while the dental hygienist was a doll, the dentist (I don't remember her name) has been extremely unprofessional, unhelpful, and hasn't helped my condition AT ALL. After the extractions I developed an infection, so she removed the blood clots which when caused a dry socket. I wasn't given any instruction on how to care for the dry socket, nothing to flush it, nothing on if I should rinse or anything, NOTHING. She packed it with paste, gave me an antibiotic, and left the room. Literally didn't tell me a single freaking thing on what to expect. I'm struggling with it not healing, even though I'm on the 5th day since being seen for the infection. I'm struggling to keep food and debris out of the socket because again, I wasn't given a syringe or anything to rinse it with. I finally had to google tonight how to care for it and I guess I'll look at Wal-Mart tomorrow and see if I can find anything. But even if they didn't have it she should have told me. Also she didn't get all of my tooth, the one that is infected. It's visible and sharp and is cutting into my gums. It's clearly there and not ONCE was it mentioned to me. I've just started to be able to feel it recently with the pain from the infection finally going away. Oh, and Advil/Tylenol literally does nothing for a dry socket that is infected. And that's what I was told. I've been in literal pain, so so much, since last Thursday when I originally got all the teeth removed. Non-stop pain, and a terrible experience with no patient education AT ALL.
Valerie Davis
4 years ago
Staff was professional.
Dan Holden
4 years ago
Hygienists were great. Dr Chang was rude and trying to give away business and rude. Maybe she needs to go somewhere else
Dan Holden
5 years ago
Hygienists were great. Dr Chang was rude and trying to give away business and rude. Maybe she needs to go somewhere else
Valerie Davis
5 years ago
Staff was professional.
Finn
5 years ago
I had multiple extractions done, and while the dental hygienist was a doll, the dentist (I don't remember her name) has been extremely unprofessional, unhelpful, and hasn't helped my condition AT ALL. After the extractions I developed an infection, so she removed the blood clots which when caused a dry socket. I wasn't given any instruction on how to care for the dry socket, nothing to flush it, nothing on if I should rinse or anything, NOTHING. She packed it with paste, gave me an antibiotic, and left the room. Literally didn't tell me a single freaking thing on what to expect. I'm struggling with it not healing, even though I'm on the 5th day since being seen for the infection. I'm struggling to keep food and debris out of the socket because again, I wasn't given a syringe or anything to rinse it with. I finally had to google tonight how to care for it and I guess I'll look at Wal-Mart tomorrow and see if I can find anything. But even if they didn't have it she should have told me. Also she didn't get all of my tooth, the one that is infected. It's visible and sharp and is cutting into my gums. It's clearly there and not ONCE was it mentioned to me. I've just started to be able to feel it recently with the pain from the infection finally going away. Oh, and Advil/Tylenol literally does nothing for a dry socket that is infected. And that's what I was told. I've been in literal pain, so so much, since last Thursday when I originally got all the teeth removed. Non-stop pain, and a terrible experience with no patient education AT ALL.
Load more