KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - The King County Health Action Plan and the Washington Dental Service Foundation are announcing receipt of a $923,288 federal grant to fund the first year of a multi-county effort to expand children's access to health care.

During the first year of this grant, awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Kids Get Care Program will be expanded throughout Snohomish, Pierce and King counties. Currently in its fourth year in King County, Kids Get Care links uninsured and underinsured children to a single location, or “health care home,” where they can receive coordinated and integrated health and dental care.

"We are extremely pleased that we can begin implementing the successful Kids Get Care program statewide," said Susan Johnson, Director of the King County Health Action Plan. "Kids Get Care is a proven model for improving children's health by reducing barriers to care and ensuring kids get health care services regardless of their insurance status."

"This collaborative effort is important because it focuses on prevention," said Tracy Garland, President and CEO of Washington Dental Service Foundation. "Health care dollars are better spent preventing disease, instead of paying for expensive treatment. This new partnership is also an innovative approach to ensure that children's oral health is integrated into overall health care."

The grant, one of only 35 awarded by HRSA nationwide, will be administered by the Washington Dental Service Foundation and represents the first year of funding for what is proposed as a three-year, $2 million dollar initiative. A consortium of physicians, dentists, mental health specialists, community health centers, public health departments, and many other health and medical organizations will implement the project.

With this grant, partners aim to increase children screened for oral disease by their first birthday by 20% and increase children who are up-to-date on their well child check-ups by 25%.

A part of HRSA's Healthy Communities Access Program, the grant will support increased well child exams and oral health screenings for thousands of children in Pierce and Snohomish counties. In addition, the grant will fund outreach and treatment for pregnant women focusing on oral and mental health in order to improve these conditions in mothers and children as early as possible.

Other project activities are to:

Several local agencies will serve as community partners for this grant, providing referral services and linkages for patients as well as technical support for the project. In Pierce County these partners will include Community Health Care, Northwest Physicians Network and the Pierce County Health Department. In Snohomish County, partners include Community Health Centers of Snohomish County and the Snohomish Health District. Partners in King County are the 45th St. Clinic (Puget Sound Neighborhood Health Centers), Harborview Medical Center and Public Health - Seattle & King County.

Kids Get Care is a program sponsored by Public Health - Seattle & King County. The program's goal is to ensure that children, regardless of insurance status, receive early integrated preventive physical, oral and developmental health services through attachment to a health care home. For more information on Kids Get Care, visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/kgc

The Washington Dental Service Foundation is the state's largest foundation dedicated to improving oral health by supporting innovative approaches and focusing on oral disease prevention. For more information on the Washington Dental Service Foundation, visit: www.deltadentalwa.com/wdsfoundation/wdsfoundation.htm

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