County 1-of-12 selected statewide
Robbinsville – The Delta Dental Foundation of North Carolina paid the Graham County Dental Clinic a special visit on June 13, bringing along a $5,000 check to make the trip worthwhile.
Elaine Loyack, vice president of community engagement and government relations, was on hand with a check that would make Happy Gilmore unable to continue on the PGA tour. Graham was one of only 12 counties in North Carolina selected as a $5,000 recipient by Delta Dental as part of its Smiles for Kids awards program.
Loyack emphasized that the Raleigh-based organization targets areas that are designated as experiencing a shortage in dental professionals. According to data from the Health Resources & Services Administration, Graham County more than fits the bill: the lack of available dental health, primary care and mental health practically leaps off the page in terms of necessity.
Delta Dental estimates that a whopping 85,355 lives could be improved through this year’s awards alone – in Graham County, that translates to 2,769 (34 percent of the population).
“My point in sharing this with you … was to emphasize what a critical role the Graham County Dental Clinic team serves,” Loyack said in a June 14 email, noting that the clinic also receives patients from Cherokee, Clay, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, which also are designated as shortage areas.
In addition to the dental clinic, Graham County Urgent Care, Snowbird Health Clinic, Cherokee Indian Housing Authority Snowbird Clinic and Appalachian Mountain Community Health (Tallulah Health Clinic) all fall under the designation at the local level. Graham County was joined by Carteret, Clay, Davie, Durham, Haywood, Hertford, Jackson, Onslow, Union, Vance and Yadkin counties as first-time recipients of Smiles for Kids.
Graham County was listed as one of 18 looking to improve the dental equipment and supplies at its clinic at 21 S. Main St. The facility is in the same building as Graham County Urgent Care.
A total of $149,000 in grants were afforded statewide, with 46 percent ($67,118, the largest portion) going toward dental equipment and supplies. There was 31 percent ($53,200) set aside for dental health services and 23 percent ($28,410) for oral health education. All told, 39 nonprofits received grants. In the vicinity of Graham County, the list includes Blue Ridge Mountains Health Project, a free dental clinic in Cashiers, and Clay County Hearts for Kids & Seniors in Hayesville.