Children in need are about to get some help, thanks to America’s ToothFairy: National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF). The organization has awarded $85,000 in grants to 17 members of its Dental Resource Program (DRP), a national network of nonprofit clinics providing oral health education and care to children and families in need.
The DRP groups will use the funds to overcome the obstacles that many families face in accessing dental care, including financial hardship, lack of transportation, language barriers, and low oral health literacy. DRP projects reach thousands of children through projects such as school-based screenings, education and care for children with special needs, and comprehensive care for children living in poverty.
For example, the Cass County Dental Clinic received the $5,000 Septodont ToothFairy Grant. Located in a county with no public transportation, the nonprofit group serves low-income children in rural Missouri. The grant will enable the clinic’s personnel to travel to area schools, provide services, and coordinate follow-up care for those with unmet dental needs.
“NCOHF grant funding will allow us to expand the reach of our school-based dental screening program during the 2017/2018 school year,” said Cynthia Randazzo, Cass Community Health Foundation and Cass County Dental Clinic president.
“With this generous support, we will be able to screen students in the 2 poorest school districts in our service area. Identifying children with unmet needs and connecting them to care will help them thrive socially, emotionally, and academically,” said Randazzo.
“We are proud to award these ToothFairy grants in honor of the caring companies and individuals supporting our mission to increase access to essential oral care for children in need,” said Jill Malmgren, executive director of NCOHF. “With these generous contributions, the clinics and community partners we support will be able to provide more children with preventive services and critical dental treatment.”
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