Thanks to the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation

Montana Primary Care Association salutes the Washington Foundation for again supporting oral health outreach projects for children who have challenges getting dental care. Eight Montana Community Health Center Dental Clinics this past year expanded dental outreach to children needing screening and care. The "Get on the Right Track" program enables clinics to tailor outreach to the needs of their community. Libby and Havre completed screenings of all the children in their area schools. Cut Bank, Missoula and Kalispell provided targeted education, screening and care. Butte performed a variety of outreach in schools and fairs and continued their monthly clinic 'dental day.' The clinic in Bozeman provided enhanced preventive care. The clinic in Billings creatively partnered with another program that targets children, by doing pilots to see how WIC staff can provide oral health education to children and parents and help their clients access dental services.

John Maher, CEO of Glacier Community Health Center and Dental Clinic in Cut Bank, says, "Needless to say we appreciate the Washington Foundation financial support of our outreach dental activities for underserved children. I wish we could share with everyone the actual experiences that our dental team has as they visit various rural schools. I would like to take others along because it is hard to describe the warm welcomes from the school staff, the excitement and engagement of the students and the enjoyment of our dental staff as they connect with kids that really need oral health screening and education. They all have fun and make an impact at the same time. You cannot ask for a better work day."

And from Kim Mansch, CEO of the clinic in Missoula, "Good dental care is the basis for a successful future. Children coming to school with decayed and infected teeth are at a serious disadvantage for academic success because poor oral health and the pain associated with it affect school work and nutrition. By providing support to Partnership Health Center, the Washington Foundation has been instrumental in paving the way for disadvantaged children to seek effective dental care, helping them overcome access and financial barriers.

The grant has enabled all of these clinics to proactively reach out to children and provide care and education for the child and family. On behalf of all the children these clinics were able to reach, and all the dental clinic staff that were supported in this outreach, Montana Primary Care Association thanks the Washington Foundation for their support.

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