MPCA News

Helena and Butte Community Health Centers (CHCs) Receive Dental Grants

Community Dental Clinic, 326 South Jackson Street, Butte, MT.

The Cooperative Health Center in Helena and the Butte Community Health Center have received federal grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to expand access to dental services. The Helena CHC received $263,116 and the Butte CHC received $183,333. Only 22 dental service expansion grants were awarded nationally in this round of funding. A large portion of both grants will be received annually on an ongoing basis. These funds will enable an increase in the number of patients to be served at both sites.

"We plan to hire a full-time dentist, dental assistant, and 8 hour per week hygienist. We are hoping to have 2,500 dental visits per year." says Kate Wilson, Executive Director of Helena's Cooperative Health Center. "Filling gaps in the healthcare system is a core function of public health. Countless people with low incomes in Lewis and Clark County and nationwide have gone without dental care for years. The Cooperative Health Center is working to fill the dental care gap by providing dental services on a sliding scale. The new dentist paid with Bureau of Primary Health Care funds will augment the hours of volunteer time Helena dentists have and will continue to provide to our community."

"This funding came just in time. " said Cindy Stergar, Executive Director of the Butte Community Health Center. "It will allow us to keep our full-time dentist. We will also be able to contract with a dental hygienist who will help us on a part-time basis." An additional operatory will be added to the Butte CHC dental clinic with a portion of the grant funds. This will improve clinc efficiency.

For more information about these dental clinics, call Kate Wilson in Helena at 406-457-8956 or Cindy Stergar in Butte at 406-496-6003.

Montana Primary Care Association 1805 Euclid Avenue Helena, MT 59601 Phone: (406) 442-2750 Fax: (406) 449-2460