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Jan 9, 2003 Contact: Bonnie Widerburg (503) 731-4180 Technical contact: Donalda Dodson (503) 731-4398 $1 million grant boosts efforts to improve toddlers' oral health Oregon is receiving nearly a million dollars from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to reduce tooth decay among low-income toddlers and pregnant women, according to public health officials at the state Department of Human Services (DHS) The grant provides $932,925 over three years. Only six states, Oregon, Arizona, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Rhode Island and Vermont, received such funding, according to Donalda Dodson, child and family health program manager in DHS. "Tooth decay is the most prevalent chronic disease affecting Oregon's children," says Dodson. "Sadly, about 50 percent of low-income children are at very high risk for cavities that start early in life. This funding will help us provide services in three Oregon communities, where various prevention strategies will be piloted." Sites of pilot projects are Klamath and Multnomah counties; a current project in Deschutes will likely be expanded to other Central Oregon communities. These areas were selected because of their interest and commitment to oral health promotion. Each project will be tailored to its community and will focus on reaching low-income pregnant women, babies and children up to age 2, Dodson says. "Untreated tooth decay seriously affects normal growth and learning. It is linked to costly infections and other poor health conditions,"says Dodson. "Bacterial infections in a pregnant woman can lead to infant tooth decay, so it is critical that prevention begin before birth." DHS will also work on building partnerships with local health plans, the health and dental communities, non-oral health practitioners and federally qualified health centers, including Indian health centers, Dodson says. "We need to raise awareness about the problem of inadequate oral health care and develop community strategies to meet the challenge," says Dodson. "These pilots are a beginning step toward actively addressing early prevention of oral health problems on a statewide basis." In July, DHS received federal funds to create a statewide oral health program and provide dental sealants in Oregon schools. "This new money will enhance the work that is already underway," Dodson says. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJ), based in Princeton, N.J., is the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care. It concentrates grant making in four goal areas: to assure that all Americans have access to basic health conditions to promote healthy communities and lifestyles; and to reduce the personal, social, and economic harm caused by abuse from tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs. RWJ's Center for Health Care Strategies promotes high quality health care services for low-income populations and people with chronic illnesses and disabilities. It achieves this objective through training, technical assistance and grant-making to state purchasers of publicly financed health care, health plans and consumer groups. Program priorities are quality improvement, reducing racial and ethnic disparities and increasing community options for people with disabilities. To find out more about one of the three pilot projects and a local person to talk with, call Bonnie Widerburg at (503) 731-4180. |
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