The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation will award $1.1 million to 12 health clinics in addition to more than $205,000 to 23 nonprofit and community organizations. The health clinics will use the funding to support the integration of medical and dental care for children, while the nonprofit and community groups will use their awards to improve children’s oral health.
Noting the importance of integrating oral health into primary care as key to expanding access to quality oral healthcare for underserved children, the foundation says that dental and medical professionals understand the importance of working together to manage the care of their mutual patients and help their patients achieve better overall health.
“Through our programs and grant funding opportunities, we aim to increase access to quality healthcare and reduce dental disease. Integrating dental care into a child’s primary care at an early age can help establish the foundation for a lifetime of good oral and overall health,” said Lora Vitek, executive director of the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation.
“Far too many children in Illinois don’t receive the dental care they need,” said Heather Alderman, president of the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation, which is collaborating with the foundation in providing the funding to the health clinics. “Untreated tooth decay can affect children’s diet, sleep, and ability to learn. This situation is unconscionable when you consider how treatable and preventable these diseases are.”
The 12 Illinois health clinics receiving grants include:
- Advocate Charitable Foundation, Downers Grove
- Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center, Midlothian
- Community Health Improvement Center, Decatur
- Pillars Community Health (Community Nurse Health Association), La Grange
- Erie Family Health Foundation, Chicago
- Heartland International Health Center, Chicago
- Howard Brown Health Center, Chicago
- Lawndale Christian Health Center, Chicago
- Macoupin County Public Health Department, Gillespie
- Promise Healthcare, Champaign
- Shawnee Health Service and Development Corporation, Carbondale
- SIHD Healthcare, Sauget
“Our Community Grants Program has provided more than $1 million to help these organizations increase access to quality dental care and expand their oral health education efforts. We are honored to partner with this year’s Community Grants recipients to help reduce dental disease in our state,” said Vitek.
This year’s 2019 Community Grants Program recipients include:
- Center for Healthcare Innovation, Aurora
• Chicago Dental Society Foundation, Wheaton
• Douglas County Health Department, Tuscola
• Erie Family Health Centers, Chicago
• Foster Family Resource Center of Southern Illinois, Carbondale
• Girls in the Game, Chicago area and McLean County
• Hancock County Health Department, Carthage
• Heartland Head Start, Bloomington
• Heartland Alliance-The Oral Health Forum, Chicago
• Howard Area Community Center, Chicago
• Hult Center for Healthy Living, Peoria
• Infant Welfare Society of Chicago, Chicago
• McLean County Health Department, Bloomington
• Mercer County Health Department, Aledo
• Milestone Dental Clinic, Rockford
• Mobile Care Chicago, Chicago
• Northwest Community Hospital Foundation-Mobile Dental Clinic, Arlington Heights
• Promise Healthcare, Champaign
• Riverbend Head Start and Family Services, Alton
• Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Mattoon
• University of Illinois Board of Trustees-UIC Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Chicago
• Well Child Center, Elgin
• Zion Benton Children’s Service, Zion
The next application cycle for community grants will start in the fall of 2020.
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