The Community Health Center of the North Country received $1,134,070 in grant funding from the state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities to expand dental services in Ogdensburg. The award was one of 30 totaling $25 million announced by Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul, with the largest single grant of $5 million going to the New York University Dentistry Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities.
The grant, designated for “IDD-Focused Dental Suite Expansion — Ogdensburg FQHC,” will support improvements to dental services for all patients served by the health center, according to Ray Babowicz, director of communications, marketing and government relations for the Community Health Center of the North Country. The Cerebral Palsy Association of the North Country, an affiliate of the Community Health Center, was listed as the receiving agency.
Focus on Underserved Populations
Babowicz emphasized the significance of the funding for addressing gaps in dental care, particularly for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. “The need for more dental services in the North Country is certainly not a secret, and that need is only magnified for those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD),” he stated. The funding will allow the center to expand access to specialized dental care while serving the broader community.
Expanded Services Across the Region
The Community Health Center of the North Country operates locations in Ogdensburg, Canton, Gouverneur, and Malone. The centers currently offer primary, pediatric, dental, behavioral health, women’s health, dermatology, foot care, physical therapy, substance abuse care coordination, and care coordination services, along with WIC services, a Community Friendship Volunteer Program, and a School-Based Dental Home Program.
Gov. Hochul framed the funding initiative as part of her administration’s effort to address health equity gaps. The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities provides services directly and through a network of over 400 not-for-profit providers to people with developmental disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, and other neurological impairments.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.nny360.com/top_stories/community-health-center-of-the-north-country-receives-1-1-million-to-improve-dentistry-services/article_97b3b9e1-439b-5a79-ae90-3c7d7009797b.html