dqf2019062

Massachusetts: This investment supports the MCPHS to provide mobile dental services to residents in Worcester County, MA in collaboration with various social service agencies to offer an array of preventive hygiene services, provided in part by dental hygiene students from the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene. Transportation, lack of evening and weekend office hours and access problems are barriers to obtaining oral health services. There is an estimated 800,000 Worcester County residents with documented poor oral health status among immigrants, under-privileged and elderly, who lack literacy skills, financial resources, access to insurance and transportation. Funds requested, $35,508 will be used toward two full units of mobile dental hygiene equipment. Grant funds provided through the Community Response Fund will improve access to care for an underserved population.