State funds support local dental programs

SANDUSKY — The Erie County Health Department and the Erie County Community Health Center recently announced they have been selected for two crucial grant awards from the Ohio Department of Health, totaling about $421,000 over three years. The grants include: • The Dental Sealant Grant: New to the health department/community health center, this award enhances preventative dental care for children across Erie County. This grant will be used to implement a comprehensive program, providing essential dental screenings and the application of dental sealants to molars. This program will focus on children in key developmental stages: those in second and sixth grades with a one-year follow-up for these same children when they're in the third and seventh grades, respectively. • The Dental Safety Net Grant: This award marks the fourth consecutive year that the health department/community health center has received this funding. This grant will ensure that the health department/community health center can continue to provide and expand comprehensive dental services to all residents, regardless of their ability to pay. This commitment to the safety net helps maintain access to vital care for vulnerable populations throughout the county. The health department and community health center will work closely with Erie County schools to bring these crucial preventative services directly to students, removing barriers to care right where they learn. "These grant awards are a major win for the oral health of our children," said Nicole Ziegler, a registered nurse and the health department's/community health center's chief health services officer. "These projects will allow us to proactively provide essential screenings, sealants for children as well as dental services for all ages." People can contact the health department by visiting eriecohealthohio.com or calling 419-626-5623 for more information.