The Department of Health and Welfare's new Community Health Center Grant Program has awarded grants totaling $1 million to improve health care for Idahoans across the state of Idaho. The primary focus for this year's grants was improving access for dental health care.

The Idaho Community Health Center Grant Program was established in 2007 and funded by the 2008 Legislature to provide grants to Community Health Centers to improve access to health care. Community Health Center grants are limited to $500,000, with no project funded by the grant for longer than one year. As specified by the Legislature, preference for the current awards was given to applicants that proposed to purchase dental equipment.

"These grants provide our Community Health Centers with a resource to help overcome the barriers that limit health care access in Idaho," said Mary Sheridan, Supervisor of the State Office of Rural Health and Primary Care. "The Community Health Center Grant Program allows applicants the flexibility to design activities and programs that work best in their own communities."

Details of the individual grant awards include:

• Family Health Services - $193,000 to purchase dental equipment to establish services at Twin Falls Clinic and expand services at the Burley Dental Clinic;
• Dirne Community Health Center - $193,000 to purchase dental equipment to relocate and expand the dental clinic from three to six dental stations;
• Upper Valley Community Health Services - $175,000 to purchase dental equipment needed for initial oral health services at a new facility in St. Anthony;
• Benewah Medical Center - $152,000 to purchase a digital dental x-ray system and training of personnel in its use;
• Terry Reilly Health Services - $130,000 to purchase dental equipment and office furnishings to expand its Boise dental practice from four to six dental stations;
• Health West - $129,000 to expand the Pocatello Clinic by adding a new exam room and nursing/provider work area and support of the implementation of E-Prescribing and an electronic medical record;
• Glenns Ferry Health Center - $24,400 to upgrade panoramic dental x-ray to digital imaging.