In The News
Sutter grants $100,000 each to Dientes, Santa Cruz
Women's Health Center
JONDI GUMZ - Sentinel Staff Writer
Article Launched: 11/08/2008 01:33:08 AM PST
Dientes Community Dental Care and the Santa Cruz Women's Health
Center each will receive $100,000 to expand services to low-income
patients, thanks to the Santa Cruz Medical Foundation.
Dientes will start a pilot program to educate low-income children
about dental care and provide screenings at elementary schools throughout
Santa Cruz County. Students in grades 1-3 will receive exams, cleanings,
fluoride applications and sealants at the school locations. Parents
of any child requiring further treatment will be referred accordingly.
Will Hahn, executive director of Dientes, said screenings in the
Pajaro Valley Unified School District found children in need of
treatment but were discontinued due to lack of funding,
The Santa Cruz Women's Health Center will hire an additional full-time
nurse practitioner and full-time medical assistant, and open and
equip one more exam room.
"At a time when we are suffering from Medi-Cal cuts and other
funding challenges, a grant like this is very welcome," said
Dr. Patrick Meehan, executive director of Women's Health Center.
"This money will go a long way toward increasing access for
low-income women and families."
The grants are part of $2.5 million awarded by Sutter Health to
26 medical and dental care centers in Northern California serving
low-income, uninsured and underinsured patients. Santa Cruz Medical
Foundation is a Sutter Health affiliate.
"We have been longtime partners with our local safety net
clinics and truly admire and support the work they do," said
Dr. Larry deGhetaldi, president of the Santa Cruz region of Palo
Alto Medical Foundation. "Both Dientes and the Women's Health
Center have done a marvelous job over the years helping the underserved
in our community and we are very pleased that we could be instrumental
in supporting their efforts to expand services."
Contact Jondi Gumz at 706-3253 or jgumz@santacruzsentinel.com.
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