The Community College of Rhode Island announced on Mar. 19 a new partnership with the Providence Community Health Center and Children’s Fund to expand access to pediatric dental care for children in Providence.
The initiative aims to address barriers faced by nearly 40% of Rhode Island children who struggle to access dental services, as untreated dental disease remains a common chronic condition among youth. The program is supported by a $2.7 million grant awarded to the Providence Community Health Center (PCHC) as part of a larger $7.9 million investment from the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 6/10 Children’s Fund, administered in partnership with the Rhode Island Foundation.
Under this initiative, CCRI dental hygiene faculty and students will provide mobile, school-based, and community-based screenings, sealants, fluoride varnish applications, and oral health education. The program also establishes a direct referral pathway connecting vulnerable youth in Providence to specialized pediatric dental care.
Merrill Thomas, president and CEO of PCHC, said, “We are excited to partner with the Attorney General’s office and the Rhode Island Foundation to expand dental services to improve the oral health of young people in Providence. This grant funding will enable PCHC and our project partners to deliver hard-to-access oral health services to an additional 3,000 children annually.”
By combining CCRI’s clinical expertise with PCHC’s pediatric infrastructure, organizers say they hope to offer proactive solutions for issues such as dental decay—which affects one in three kindergartners in Rhode Island.
Rosemary A. Costigan became the first alumna to serve as president of the Community College of Rhode Island according to the official website. The college supports community development through programs like Rhode Island Promise that provides free tuition for recent high school graduates according to the official website. CCRI maintains campuses in Warwick, Lincoln, Providence and Newport along with education centers in Westerly and Woonsocket according to the official website. It offers more than 200 degree and certificate programs according to the official website and aims to deliver accessible higher education and career training for Rhode Islanders according to the official website.
The college operates multiple campuses throughout Rhode Island and supports student success through initiatives like free tuition for recent high school graduates as well as transfer agreements with over 120 universities. As stated on its official website, CCRI emphasizes accessible education and career training designed for community needs.
