Rep. Miller, Solano officials trumpet federal funding for new County dental clinic
Clinic will address critical employment, dental needs in Solano County
Supervisor Jim Spering, Dr. Franklin Woo, Supervisor John Vasquez, Marge Carroll,
Vacaville Mayor Len Augustine and Congressman George Miller showcase the $2.2 million
in federal stimulus dollars coming to Solano County.
A ceremonial check presentation on Friday (Jan. 29) officially acknowledged a $2.2 million stimulus grant to build a County dental clinic in Vacaville for Solano County residents.
U. S. Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez) presented the check to Supervisor John Vasquez among a small crowd of local officials and dentists. The event also kicks off local National Children's Dental Health Month activities.
"This funding from the federal Recovery Act will create good-paying jobs in Vacaville and represents a solid commitment to ensure our children have healthy smiles and access to the health services they need," said Congressman Miller, who fought hard to pass the Recovery Act into law last year.
“This funding will expand the County’s ability to serve children in our community and insert much needed construction dollars into the local economy to help create jobs. The Recovery Act has always been about accomplishing two goals at once – create jobs to help end the recession and make critical investments in our community. The County’s dental clinic in Vacaville will do just that,” Congressman Miller said.
The County received word in December that the federal Health Resources and Services Administration was awarding the County federal stimulus dollars under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to build the six-chair, 3,000-sqaure-foot clinic as part of the two-story 25,000-sqaure-foot William J. Carroll Government Center being built on Monte Vista Avenue.
The funding for the dental clinic comes out of $1.5 billion made available by the Recovery Act to support health centers nationwide, to expand their capacity and to provide primary and preventive health services to medically underserved populations.
The County anticipates breaking ground on the project in December 2010 and opening the clinic in 2012.
“Our partnership with the federal government to serve the people of Solano County has come through once again. This funding will expand the services at this clinic to meet the growing demand in northern Solano County,” said Supervisor John Vasquez.
An estimated 18 percent of the patient visits at the County’s Dental Clinic in Fairfield are from residents in Vacaville, Dixon, Rio Vista and the unincorporated area. County officials said these numbers under represent the actual need based on statewide estimates that only 26 percent of the people eligible for Medi-Cal dental benefits access treatment.
“A new dental clinic in Vacaville will provide residents of northern Solano County easier access to dental care,” said Dr. Frank Woo, Solano County Dental Clinic manager. “Transportation can be problematic for our clients. These clients will no longer have to come to Fairfield for dental care.”
The dental clinic will provide general dental services and oral surgery, including the use of general anesthesia. The clinic will also screen patients for high blood pressure, diabetes and other diseases. Dental staff will refer these patients to the County’s primary care clinics for follow-up care.
“Children’s oral health is a significant issue in California and Solano County alike,” Dr. Woo said. “The new clinic will allow a quicker response to dental issues resulting in fewer dental emergencies and less costly procedures.”
Statewide dental statistics reveal that more than 50 percent of children have dental decay by kindergarten and 28 percent them have untreated decay and 19 percent have extensive decay.
According to research by the Pew Center on the States, an estimated 80 percent of dental disease in children nationwide is concentrated in 25 percent of kids, and children from poor families face disproportionately high barriers to getting care.
“Helping our kids maintain healthy teeth will make it possible for them to thrive in school and become healthy, productive adults,” Supervisor Vasquez said.
Posted: Jan. 29, 2010
