The Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation (DDCOF) will provide $3.5 million in funding over three years to 31 Colorado nonprofit organizations to support projects that create accessible oral healthcare across the lifespan and advance oral health equity. Over the past two years, DDCOF has awarded $6.9 million in grants focused on oral health to Colorado communities.
“We believe oral health equity means everyone can have a healthy mouth regardless of life circumstances,” said Adeeb Khan, executive director of DDCOF. “Partnering on community-driven solutions is essential to achieving our mission. With a 21% increase in applications during our second open grantmaking cycle, there is a clear need for ongoing, dedicated oral health funding in the state.”
Social determinants including race and ethnicity, income, geography, age, housing, and food insecurity impact oral health and overall well-being, DDCOF says. The grant recipients have identified solutions that address oral health disparities aligned with DDCOF’s focus areas, which include access to oral healthcare, prevention of tooth decay, and strengthening the connection between oral health and overall health.
Recipients focused on ensuring access to care include:
- All American Families (Delta)
- Center for African American Health (Metro Denver)
- Center for Immigrants & Immigration Services (Aurora)
- Clinica Family Health (Metro Denver)
- Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy and Research Organization (Metro Denver)
- Colorado Mountain College Foundation (Glenwood Springs)
- Dental Aid Inc. (Metro Denver)
- Dolores Health Association (Cortez)
- Health District of Northern Larimer County (Fort Collins)
- Kids First Health Care (Metro Denver)
- Montezuma County Public Health Department (Cortez)
- Mountain Family Health Centers (Glenwood Springs)
- River Valley Health Center (Montrose)
- Project Worthmore (Metro Denver)
- Salud Family Health Centers (Trinidad)
- Servicos de La Raza (statewide)
- South Central Council of Governments (Trinidad)
- Southeast Colorado Hospital District and Long Term Care Center (Springfield)
- Sunrise Community Health (Greely)
- Vail Valley Charitable Fund (Edwards)
Recipients focused on preventing and early intervention of tooth decay include:
- Family Star (Metro Denver)
- Kids in Need of Dentistry (Metro Denver & Colorado Springs)
- Mile High Early Learning (Metro Denver)
- Reach Out and Read Colorado (statewide)
- Rural Communities Resource Center (Yuma)
- Special Olympics Colorado (statewide)
Recipients focused on the connections between oral health and overall health include:
- Benefits in Action (statewide)
- Dominican Home Health Agency (Metro Denver)
- Hope West (Grand Junction)
- Summit Community Care Clinic (Frisco)
- Tri-County Health Department (Metro Denver)
“Whether they live in a dental health professional shortage area or cannot afford care, too many Coloradans lack access to proper oral healthcare,” said Khan. “Our open funding partners have identified dynamic solutions to oral health challenges. We’re honored to invest in their implementation and broaden our collaboration with communities to help more people live healthier lives.”
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