The Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation has awarded $420,308 to 19 organizations to strengthen and transform Iowans’ oral and overall health.
The grants are part of the Foundation’s Ignite, Innovation and Strengthening the Nonprofit Sector Grant programs, which are intended to infuse a spark, encourage learnings, or strengthen capacity and strategic operations of organizations and coalitions working to improve the oral and overall health outcomes of those served, according to a news release.
“We’re proud to support these important efforts through Delta Dental’s grant programs.” said Suzanne Heckenlaible, executive director of the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. “Through these investments, we’ll continue to learn alongside our grant partners to help inform our long-term system change and capacity building efforts to improve the oral and overall health of all Iowans.”
Ignite Grants award organizations up to $25,000 for projects that advance oral health or the integration of oral health with overall health. Organizations awarded Ignite grants by the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation include:
- The Oral Health Project in Iowa City received $25,000 to support sustainable and effective dental services for Iowa immigrants through access and education.
- Toothbrushers and Balaam’s Donkey in Springville received $10,000 to support the Oral Care Aide pilot program for health science students.
- FAMILY, Inc. in Council Bluffs received $25,000 to support the Children’s Oral Health Coalition and medical dental integration.
- The Iowa 4-H (SWITCH Program) in Ames received $25,000 to support SWITCH-ing the oral health and behaviors of Iowa’s youth through experiential learning.
- The Young Women’s Resource Center in Des Moines received $15,000 to support Brighter Beginnings for Young Mom’s & Family – Oral Health Curriculum update and care coordination.
Innovation grants award organizations up to $25,000 for projects that invest in innovative opportunities to improve wellness and vision through community health initiatives. Innovation Grants awarded by the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation include:
- The Catherine McAuley Center in Cedar Rapids received $25,000 to support Improving the health and wellness of the refugee and immigrant community.
- Vision to Learn in Dubuque received $25,000 to support vision screening access and glasses for students.
- Can Play in West Des Moines received $15,000 to support Can Play licensing expansion in Iowa, removing barriers to physical activity.
- The Iowa Healthiest State Initiative in Des Moines received $25,000 to support the Make It OK Impact Survey and statewide campaign efforts to reduce the stigma of mental illness.
- One Iowa in West Des Moines received $24,058 to support expansion of LGBTQ resource guide and inclusivity trainings to rural Iowa health care providers.
Strengthening the Nonprofit Sector grants award up to $25,000 to nonprofit organizations and coalitions focused on serving priority populations disproportionately affected by the pandemic and associated complications due to longstanding systemic social and health inequities. Grants awarded support coalition and nonprofit organizations in strategic, operational planning and capacity building efforts to improve the oral and/or overall health of priority populations. The following grants were awarded throughout 2021 by the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation:
- Dental Connections of Des Moines received $25,000 to support Three C’s of Oral Care project.
- The Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center in Urbandale received $25,000 to support the Mental Health Clinical Residency workforce development program.
- EMBARC in Des Moines received $25,000 to support the Building Resilience and Sustainability After Crisis project.
- Free Clinics of Iowa in Des Moines received $25,000 to support the Free Clinics of Iowa Initiative for Long Term Sustainability project.
- Latinas Latinos Al Exito in Des Moines received $25,000 to support the Latinx project.
- Oakridge Neighborhood Services in Des Moines received $25,000 to support the Oakridge Health Clinics project.
- The Quad Cities Community Broadcasting Group in Davenport received $25,000 to support the Health Inequity Media Mitigation project.
- The SALUD-Multicultural Health Coalition of Storm Lake received $6,250 to support basic interpreter training for community health interpreters.
- Youth Homes of Mid-America in Johnston received $25,000 to support the YHMA & YESS: Stronger Together project.
Since 2002, Delta Dental has invested more than $49 million to improve the oral and overall health of Iowans.
