Nine Michigan Communities Awarded Fluoridation Equipment Grants
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 24, 2013
LANSING - The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Oral Health Program has selected nine communities across the state to initiate and maintain a community water fluoridation program for their residents. This is the fourth year these Fluoridation Equipment Grants have been awarded. This year they again were made possible by $100,000 donation from the Delta Dental Foundation.
"Community water fluoridation has been the basis for primary prevention of dental cavities for years and more importantly, studies have shown that oral health is key to overall health," said Dr. Matthew Davis, Chief Medical Executive with the MDCH. "These grants are a crucial component to ensuring the overall wellness of an entire community. As with every year, we are incredibly grateful for the Delta Dental Foundation's support of oral and overall health and wellness for our Michigan residents."
Community water fluoridation is the process of adjusting the natural fluoride concentration of a water supply to a level that is best for the prevention of dental cavities, and has been recognized as one of the 10 great achievements in public health of the 20th century. About 90 percent of communities with a water system in Michigan have access to fluoridated water. However, some water systems in the state have old equipment that prohibits an effective fluoridation program.
"It's estimated that children miss 51 million hours of school each year because of oral health issues," said Teri Battaglieri, director of the Delta Dental Foundation. "With tooth decay still topping the list as the most common chronic childhood disease, having access to fluoridated water must continue to be a priority. The Delta Dental Foundation is committed to making sure these programs have the funding they need to help ensure that Michigan's children are healthy and show up for school ready to learn each day.
The Fluoridation Equipment Grant program allows communities needing new or updated fluoride equipment to apply for funding. The 2013 community winners and their total funds are:
- City Battle Creek for $18,775
- City of Benton Harbor for $2,667
- City of Fenton for $1,154
- Frenchtown Charter Township for $8,759
- City of St. Ignace for $7,297
- City of Kalamazoo for $8,076
- City of Marquette for $24,000
- Plainfield Charter Township for $12,522
- City of Traverse City for $23,203
Communities applied for the grants and went through a competitive review process. Awardees were chosen in February based on need, population size, and evidence of fluoridation approval in the community. Between April 1 and Sept. 15th, the funds will be used to purchase the fluoridation equipment and have it installed and operational within six months. For more information about community water fluoridation and the Fluoridation Equipment Grants, visit www.michigan.gov/oralhealth.
# # #
