HRSA Awards $2.7 Million to States to Increase Access to Oral Health CareHRSA has awarded 16 new grants to states totaling $2.7 million to enhance efforts of a current program to provide oral health care among medically underserved Americans. In fiscal year 2008, Congress appropriated nearly $3 million more dollars for HRSA's Grants to States to Support Oral Health Workforce Activities program, which began with $2 million in FY 06. The new awards are part of a one-year initiative to help grantees develop more plans for oral health projects in communities with the greatest need. The initiative develops dental disease prevention efforts in communities designated as dental health professional shortage areas in 16 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Grantees will be:
- assessing statewide oral health needs to pinpoint priorities;
- identifying partners within communities or regions;
- convening partners at strategy meetings;
- developing implementation plans;
- locating additional sources of funding to ensure sustainability;
- beginning plan implementation; and
- submitting a final report to HRSA.
“For years HRSA has worked hard to expand access to oral health care through many of our agency's programs,” said HRSA Administrator Elizabeth Duke. “These grants continue that full-court press to make sure more dental care is available to people who need it.”
The grant program is administered by HRSA's Bureau of Health Professions.Read More
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