SANDUSKY — The Erie County Health Department and the Erie County Community Health Center have been awarded two grants from the Ohio Department of Health totaling about $421,000 over three years, aimed at expanding preventive and safety-net dental services.
One award, the Dental Sealant Grant, is new to the agencies and will strengthen preventive oral health care for children across Erie County. The program will provide dental screenings and apply sealants to molars, focusing on students in second and sixth grades. Follow-up services will be offered when those students advance to third and seventh grades.
The second award, the Dental Safety Net Grant, marks the fourth consecutive year the health department and community health center have received this funding. The grant supports continued and expanded access to comprehensive dental services for residents of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay, helping ensure care for vulnerable populations.
Through partnerships with Erie County schools, the agencies plan to deliver preventive dental services directly to students, reducing barriers to care.
“These grant awards are a major win for the oral health of our children,” said Nicole Ziegler, a registered nurse and chief health services officer for the health department and community health center. “These projects allow us to provide essential screenings, sealants for children, and dental services for people of all ages.”
