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County authorizes application for MDH Community Connect grant to expand children’s mobile dental visits
Summary
Houston County approved staff to apply for a Minnesota Department of Health Community Connect grant to bring additional mobile dental clinic visits for underinsured and uninsured children; staff will apply for $15,000 of a possible $60,000 award to fund a second monthly visit.
The Houston County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 14 authorized staff to apply for the Minnesota Department of Health Community Connect Grant Program to expand services of the Children’s Dental Clinic mobile unit to serve underinsured and uninsured residents.
Details of the proposal: county staff said the MDH grant program supports rural community dental clinics and that the estimated maximum award is $60,000. Staff said the county will apply for $15,000 to fund an additional mobile visit, which would increase the county’s current schedule from once to twice per month for the year the grant covers. Staff noted the county previously received a $15,000 grant from Delta Dental to support the pilot program that funds one visit per month and that the MDH grant requires no local match.
Eligibility and period: staff said the grant does not impose age restrictions and that the county’s project period (if awarded) would run from March 1, 2026, through Feb. 28, 2027. A staff member who has served on the MDH review board said she is familiar with MDH expectations and was optimistic about the proposal’s competitiveness.
Outcome: the board approved the motion to apply by voice vote. The authorization permits staff to complete and submit the MDH application; any award will be subject to future acceptance and program scheduling.
Next steps: Public Health (or the county unit administering the program) will submit the MDH application and, if awarded, schedule additional mobile dentistry visits and coordinate third‑party billing where applicable.
