Crawfordville, Fla. (WTXL) — The Wakulla County Health Department is expanding dental services to women in the Healthy Start program.
It's all thanks to a block grant from the Florida Department of Health Infant, Maternal and Reproductive Health Program.
The $9,000 grant will allow the Wakulla County Health Department to provide dental services to uninsured and underinsured pregnant women in Healthy Start.
Women will continue to receive care for up to six months after their babies are born.
To take advantage of the dental program, women must be pregnant and referred by the Healthy Start program. Mothers who are uninsured or underinsured and at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible. This includes Medicaid-eligible women who do not qualify for coverage of needed dental treatment otherwise.
Eligible mothers will receive preventive care, restorative care and surgical treatment as needed at the Health Department’s dental clinic at 48 Oak Street, Crawfordville, Florida.
The Wakulla County Health Department’s dental clinic also provides exams, x-rays, cleanings, fluoride treatments, extractions, fillings, root canals and dentures for children through age 20. The clinic has partnered with the College of Central Florida to provide services to the county’s children, and education to students enrolled in the college’s dental assisting programs.
Healthy Start is a comprehensive program promoting optimal prenatal health and developmental outcomes for all pregnant women and babies in Florida. The fundamental goals of the Healthy Start program are to reduce infant mortality, reduce the number of low birth weight babies and improve health and developmental outcomes.
For information on how to qualify for the program, call the Wakulla County Health Department Healthy Start Program at 850-926-0400.
