Washington Foundation gives $204K to the Montana Primary Care Association for low-income children’s dental care

A New Year’s Eve grant from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation http://www.dpwfoundation.org/ will underwrite three years of dental screenings for low-income children in Montana.

The $240,000 grant to the Montana Primary Care Association http://www.mtpca.org/ builds on a 2008 donation that provided 2,700 children with dental care and referrals. The money was used in community health centers in Missoula, Billings, Butte, Bozeman, Kalispell, Cut Bank, Havre and Libby.

"We know from research that the overall health and social-emotional development of children can be impacted for life if they do not receive adequate dental care," foundation director Mike Halligan said. "The goal of this program is to not only provide dental care to a critically underserved population, but also to educate parents and children of the long-term benefits of preventative dental care."

By ROB CHANEY of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/5b8e2904-1551-11e0-860f-001cc4c03286.html