MONROE - Children between the ages of 3 and 12 will soon be able to receive free dental care in Green County.
The Fowler Memorial Free Dental Clinic plans to open by September in the Pleasant View Complex. The organization received a $2,000 grant from the Jane Lysaght Memorial Fund to help cover expenses.
"It's a good start," Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program director Walter Orzechowski said.
The anticipated cost of the program is between $50,000 and $60,000 per year, he said. Orzechowski has written a grant to Delta Dental and hopes to hear the status next week. The Delta Dental grant is for $50,000. Orzechowski said the grant would cover the first year of the program. Fund raisers are also planned.
Orzechowski doesn't know how many children in Green County will benefit from the program, but regardless, there is a need.
"We won't really know until we start the program," he said.
Children who do not have access to a private dentist will be able to receive emergency dental care for such problems as a broken tooth, infection and abscesses, he said. Referrals to the clinic will come from school nurses, emergency room staff, health department staff and social services.
Volunteer dentists will provide services at no charge.
The Fowler Memorial Free Dental Clinic plans to open by September in the Pleasant View Complex. The organization received a $2,000 grant from the Jane Lysaght Memorial Fund to help cover expenses.
"It's a good start," Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program director Walter Orzechowski said.
The anticipated cost of the program is between $50,000 and $60,000 per year, he said. Orzechowski has written a grant to Delta Dental and hopes to hear the status next week. The Delta Dental grant is for $50,000. Orzechowski said the grant would cover the first year of the program. Fund raisers are also planned.
Orzechowski doesn't know how many children in Green County will benefit from the program, but regardless, there is a need.
"We won't really know until we start the program," he said.
Children who do not have access to a private dentist will be able to receive emergency dental care for such problems as a broken tooth, infection and abscesses, he said. Referrals to the clinic will come from school nurses, emergency room staff, health department staff and social services.
Volunteer dentists will provide services at no charge.