Rhode Island is channeling $7.9 million from a legal settlement into expanding dental care for children from low-income families.
Attorney General Peter Neronha announced that the funds, part of an $11 million settlement with construction company Barletta Heavy Division Inc., will be distributed through the Rhode Island Foundation to pediatric dental providers.
The decision follows a 2024 state report revealing widespread dental problems among local schoolchildren, including infections and untreated tooth decay. “The state has a responsibility to address these serious health conditions,” Neronha said.
The funding targets clinics that primarily serve uninsured patients or those on Medicaid, which often does not fully cover dental care costs.
Among the recipients:
Providence Community Health Center – $2.7 million to expand staffing and services
Tri-County Community Action Agency – $2.5 million
Samuels Sinclair Dental Center – $2 million
Comprehensive Community Action Program – $725,000
The settlement originates from a case against Barletta for using contaminated fill during construction of the Route 6/10 Connector project in Providence. The company admitted to misrepresenting testing of the materials.
Despite the violations, Barletta remains licensed in Rhode Island and continues work on the $343 million highway project and the $84.4 million Henderson Bridge project connecting Providence and East Providence.