Mercy Foundation has been awarded an Umpqua Health grant of $10,000 for the health improvement efforts of mobile dental care throughout Douglas County. These funds will be used specifically to upgrade the existing Healthy Kids Outreach Program (HKOP) vans to exceed the safety standards established by the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education for providing preventative dental care at school. About half of our Douglas County children and families live at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. Many of the families served by Mercy Foundation face transportation and financial barriers that HKOP helps overcome, especially in rural communities. HKOP helps improve the basic health of children in Douglas County in three ways: Dental Screenings And Treatments - With generous grants from the Douglas Community Fund, Oregon Community Foundation, Ford Family Foundation, and Advantage Dental, Healthy Kids staff started rolling out the addition of onsite dental clinics in 2011. Students receive a dental screening, sealants, and fluoride varnishes to protect them from getting cavities and they go home with a report card and dental kits that include a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss. Healthy Education - The Healthy Kids Outreach Program provides comprehensive health education at area schools, teaching kids how to stay healthy and make healthy choices. Educating kids on the fundamentals of personal and dental hygiene, communicable disease prevention, nutrition, exercise and heart health, and character development ensure a healthier community long into the future. Connection To Care - The Healthy Kids Outreach Program provides connection to appropriate community health care resources for children and families right at school, removing barriers that many families face. The Healthy Kids Outreach Program helps Douglas County kids be at their very best; happy, healthy and productive citizens of the future. According to Mercy Foundation President, Lisa Platt, “Umpqua Health Alliance’s funds will allow the HKOP dental team to continue to focus on oral care prevention and education in our community schools while these upgrades allow us to exceed all of the health standards as a mobile oral health care provider.” “Dental and oral health care for children is very much needed in our rural county,” says Trina Gwaltney, HKOP Manager. “Having upgraded resources in our vans allows our team to focus on education and prevention efforts while providing a safe, sterile environment for our hygienists, students and staff. We are very grateful for this grant!” For more information please contact Mercy Foundation at 541-677-4818. Website: https://www.mercygiving.org/hkop.html Via Mercy Foundation