Low-income families benefit from dental-care funding

VICTORIA – The Province is helping low-income adults and children access urgent dental care with a $120,000 one-time grant to support dental programs throughout B.C.

Twenty not-for-profit dental clinics will receive $4,000 each. The majority of the $80,000 distributed to the clinics will be used to deliver services at reduced rates for low-income families and individuals. The funds will assist with operating and capital costs such as replacement equipment.

Another $40,000 will go directly to the British Columbia Dental Association’s Save a Smile program, which supports urgent dental care to children of families without public or private dental-plan coverage throughout B.C. The association works directly with public-health dental staff who screen families for clinical and financial eligibility, as well as with the University of British Columbia, which administers program funds.

Quotes:

Michelle Stilwell, Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation –

“Good dental health is key to overall heath and along with the British Columbia Dental Association we are working to make sure that dental services are available to everyone, regardless of income. This funding and these 20 dental clinics will help low-income families and individuals access the dental care they need at a reduced rate.”

Dr. David Baird, president, British Columbia Dental Association –

“Thank you to the ministry for recognizing the valuable services offered by the 20 not-for-profit dental clinics in B.C. and the British Columbia Dental Association’s Save a Smile program. These funds will be directed to these programs to support patients in need of urgent dental care in communities throughout the province.”

Quick Facts:

• Last year government provided dental services to about 137,000 people receiving income and disability assistance and children in low-income families at a total cost of $58 million.
• Since 2006, the ministry has provided $1.4 million through numerous grants and contribution agreements in support of the British Columbia Dental Association’s charitable programs and not-for-profit dental clinics.

Learn More:

To learn more about the BC Healthy Kids program: www.eia.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/2005/healthy_kids.htm

For information on the Dental Program − Persons with Disabilities and Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers: www.mhr.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/2005/dental.htm

To learn more about the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation: www.gov.bc.ca/hsd/index.html

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contacts:

Corinna Filion
Communications Director
Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation
250 387-6489

BACKGROUNDER

Clinics receiving dental-care funding

The following not-for-profit clinics will benefit from the $4,000 funding per clinic:

Metro Vancouver/Fraser Valley:

• Abbotsford Food Bank Dental Clinic
• Downtown Eastside Dental Clinic (Vancouver)
• KEYS Dental Clinic (Surrey)
• Mid Main Community Health Centre (Vancouver)
• Pacific Oral Health Society (Surrey)
• Peace Arch Free Dental Clinic (White Rock)
• Portland Community Dental Clinic (Vancouver)
• REACH Community Health Centre (Vancouver)
• Strathcona Community Dental Clinic (Vancouver)
• Tri-City Dental Aid Clinic (Port Coquitlam)

Kootenays:

• Salvation Army Mouth Minders Dental Clinic (Cranbrook)
• West Kootenay Community TEETH Clinic (Nelson)

Northern B.C.:

• Emergency Dental Outreach Clinic (Prince George)

Thompson-Okanagan:

• Community Dental Access Clinic (Vernon)
• Gospel Mission Dental Clinic (Kelowna)
• Henning Emergency Clinic of Kindness (Penticton)
• Living Waters Dental Clinic (Salmon Arm)
• New Life Mission Dental Clinic (Kamloops)

Vancouver Island:

• CODE Dental Clinic (Nanaimo)
• Cool Aid Community Health Centre (Victoria)

Media Contacts:

Corinna Filion
Communications Director
Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation
250 387-6489