Secretary Awards $500,000 Grant To Build Dental Clinic Department of Health and Family Services Secretary Kevin R. Hayden today awarded Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program, Inc. a $500,000 dental access grant to help build the Darlington Community Dental Clinic. "This grant will help the Community Action Program build the Darlington Community Dental Clinic so people across southwestern will be able to get the dental care they need," said Secretary Hayden. "We’re working with local communities to open dental clinics or partner with existing clinics to help children and families who don’t have access to dental care." The new clinic will serve people from Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland counties. Beloit Community Health Systems and students from the Southwestern Wisconsin Technical College will provide dental services to the Darlington clinic. The new clinic will be located in downtown Darlington on the first floor of a new senior housing cooperative that is being developed by the Darlington Development Corporation and a private developer, Campbell Corporation of Wisconsin. Many families, seniors, and people with disabilities struggle to find oral health care services, especially if they are on Medicaid, BadgerCare, and Healthy Start, because there are not enough dentists in their area. Approximately 500,000 children and adults enrolled in Medicaid, BadgerCare, and Healthy Start are eligible for comprehensive dental coverage, but 75 percent of these individuals do not have access to a dental provider. Governor Doyle recently allocated funding to provide children and families in Wisconsin with access to comprehensive dental care. The Governor's efforts address the shortage of providers that offer care and dedicate more than $4 million to growing successful programs targeting underserved kids and families. Last year, the Governor made a permanent change to Medicaid rule that allows dental hygienists to be reimbursed by Medicaid for dental care services. Contact a Local Dentist to learn more about how to maintain your oral heath!