Delta Dental Invests in Northern Arizona.
Across Northern Arizona, Delta Dental’s philanthropic work is two-fold, in that their team has invested significant dollars in programs that support the community via grants as well as directly partnering with health care centers on medical-dental integration programs and dental clinics providing care to the underserved.
Delta Dental was among the sponsors of the recent Central Arizona Dental Society Foundation (CADSF) AZ MOM North event. During the Fort Tuthill event this summer, more than 600 volunteer dentists, hygienists, lab technicians and assistants provided free care to approximately 800 people over two days. The focus of this program was to alleviate pain and infection by providing dental treatments such as fillings, extractions, cleanings, as well as limited lab work, including dentures for people of all ages.
“Delta Dental of Arizona is dedicated to increasing access to oral health care and education for all individuals and families statewide. Without focused, intentional effort to support those within our community who do not have access to affordable, preventative care and oral health education, we cannot achieve this goal,” said Michael Jones, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Arizona.
In addition to this recent support, according to Jones, Delta Dental also awarded more than $140,000 in grants across Northern Arizona, including:
Coconino County Cooperative Extension received a $20,000 grant to support its Tiny Teeth, Big Smiles program, which provides oral health services to children who are not being served or do not qualify for other programs due to lack of insurance or AHCCCS status. The program provides education, dental screenings, fluoride varnish, sliver diamine fluoride, in-classroom toothbrushing, curriculum, and referrals to children in Flagstaff Title 1 preschools and elementary schools.
Flagstaff Medical Center received a $10,000 grant to support prevention for children with chronic or disabling conditions within its children’s hospital. The program provides electric toothbrush kits, fluoride and evaluations, as well as support instructions and preventive health education for these children and their families.
North Country Healthcare received a $30,000 grant to expands integrated dental health care across Northern Arizona. Expanding Integrated Dental Care is a medical-dental integration program that embeds basic oral health screenings, fluoride applications and dental education into existing pediatric and obstetric appointments to assist in reinforcing the medical-dental connection. The program also provides referral to dental care as appropriate with intent to provide dental home for those who do not have established relationships.
Northern Arizona Council of Government’s Head Start Program received a $24,800 grant to support Brush, a program of McMillen Health to improve the oral health status of underserved low-income children throughout a four-county region in Northern Arizona to children participating in Head Start programs. Quality, comprehensive, interdisciplinary oral health curriculum and educational resources are delivered via 44 classrooms, 39 home visiting staff and digital curriculum kits with education reaching 1,126 children.
Verde Valley Medical Center received a $15,000 grant for its Healthy Families Oral Health Education project, which provides dental education, training and supplies to families with a newborn in the greater Verde Valley region of Yavapai County via VVMC’s Healthy Families Home Visiting Program. This program assists at-risk new parents at home on a wide range of child-focused topics including oral health. It also connects families through a variety of quarterly and annual socialization and community events. Project activities benefit parents, newborns and siblings.
“The Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation also partners with organizations throughout Northern Arizona to improve lives by promoting optimal oral health. For example, we partner with NAU on its Beaver Creek Smiles Program,” said Jones. “This program transports nearly 250 children from Title 1 Beaver Creek School to the NAU School of Dental Hygiene to receive comprehensive dental care, including exams, cleanings, X-rays, fluoride varnish treatments, resin sealants and referrals. The program aims to improve the oral health of these children by providing direct preventive services and increasing access to care.”
In addition, Delta Dental partners with NAU Dental Hygiene College to hold the annual Kiddie Clinic, where each year nearly 100 children receive preventive treatments for only $25. FBN
By Alison Bailin, FBN
For more information on grant and partnership programs, including 2023 grant applications that open in September, https://www.deltadentalaz.com/foundation/ or email deltafoundation@deltadentalaz.com.
