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The McDonough County Health Department has received a grant to expand oral health education for preschoolers and Head Start children.
The funding, provided by the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation, will allow a health educator to visit classrooms and deliver oral health curriculum and activities, according to a community announcement.
The grant is part of the foundation’s annual Community Grants Program, which awarded more than $270,000 to 29 nonprofit and community organizations across Illinois this year. The program aims to expand access to care and improve the health and well-being of children and families.
Expanding access to care
Since 2012, the Community Grants Program has provided more than $2 million to support organizations that increase access to oral health care and education, according to the announcement.
“When children have access to quality health care, their potential is limitless,” Lora Vitek, executive director of the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation, said in the announcement. “Oral health is the foundation of overall well-being. Through our Community Grants Program and statewide partnerships, we’re paving the way for every child to access the care that supports a lifetime of healthy smiles.”
The McDonough County Health Department’s initiative is one of several funded by the program this year. Other recipients include the Bond County Health Department, which will use the funds to expand its dental clinic, and the Clay County Health Department, which will use the grant to provide oral health education and free preventive dental care through mobile units.
Addressing disparities in oral health
According to the announcement, the grants come at a time when many communities in Illinois face barriers to oral health care. Some areas lack Medicaid dental providers, while others have high poverty rates and persistent barriers to care.
For example, the DeWitt-Piatt Bi-County Health Department will use its grant to purchase a handheld x-ray unit for preventive care, addressing a lack of Medicaid dental providers in the area. The Southern Seven Health Department will use its funding to expand oral health education and preventive services across seven counties with critical shortages of dental providers.
The grants also support initiatives that provide care to underserved populations. The Elgin Adventist Church’s Heal Elgin Project, for instance, will host a two-day clinic for underserved populations, offering dental care and other services.
Supporting innovative programs
Several grants will support innovative programs aimed at improving oral health outcomes for children. The Hult Center for Healthy Living in Peoria will use its funding to implement an educational program in low-income pre-K through first-grade classrooms, allowing children to use hands-on educational props to practice brushing and flossing.
The IWS Family Health in Chicago will use its grant to establish a dental home serving children in communities with high poverty rates and limited access to care. The facility will include a dedicated space for children with disabilities and a bicultural, bilingual staff.
The Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood will use its funding to improve access to dental care for children with specific health needs by expanding appointment availability and introducing a virtual option for patient assessments.
Looking ahead
The next Community Grants Program application cycle is tentatively scheduled for late summer 2026. For more information on the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation Community Grants Program, visit deltadentalil.com/community-grants.
This story was created by reporter Abreanna Blose, [email protected], with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
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