Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dental And Food Access Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
San Juan County reports $2M Lopez Food Center grant, expands dental clinics and food-access programs
Summary
Health staff told the board that the Lopez Food Center received a $2 million Department of Commerce CDBG award and that county dental clinics provided care to 573 patients in 2025 (about $773,000 in care). The board agreed to sign on to Arcora Foundation advocacy for Medicaid dental benefits and approved staff to submit an organizational sign-on letter.
Kristen Reza Beck, the county’s health and nutrition coordinator, briefed the board on food-access and oral-health programs and described multiple new grants and partnerships that will expand services in 2026.
Kristen said the Lopez Food Center was awarded a $2 million Community Development Block Grant through the Washington State Department of Commerce and that environmental review and tribal engagement are underway. She also summarized dental‑access activity: in 2025 the county hosted clinics across Lopez, Orcas and San Juan islands; staff "saw 573 patients" and provided "over $773,000 worth of dental care provided," including school‑based sealant work and teledental screening days. Kristen outlined program innovations for 2026: monthly full-team clinics on San Juan Island supported by PeaceHealth funding, continued teledental days, expansion of school‑based sealant programs and a pilot Arcora Foundation grant to pair healthy‑food procurement with oral‑health work.
Board members praised the programs and stressed that demand exceeds capacity: Kristen said the program currently has a wait list of about 650 patients. Members discussed strategies to improve sustainability, including pursuing rural health clinic billing to increase encounter rates and exploring partnerships that can boost reimbursement and staffing. The board voted to add the San Juan County Board of Health as a formal organizational signer to the Arcora Foundation advocacy letter supporting Medicaid dental benefits, and staff were authorized to submit the sign‑on letter on behalf of the board.
Kristen also reviewed multiple food‑access efforts: Fresh Bucks and island food‑access cards, a good‑food‑bag distribution program, partnerships with local food banks and a pilot to provide produce and nutrition education to seniors and WIC clients. She said grant leverage produced significant local match and that staff will continue outreach to expand the share‑table and seed‑to‑sprout programs in spring and summer 2026.
