Friday, May 9, 2025
5/9/2025
Ryan White Title III HIV Capacity Development and Planning Grants - Address: 180 Park Avenue, Portland, ME 04102 Project Director: Ann Tucker, CEO Contact Phone Numbers: T - 207-805-3886, F - 207-761-3829 Email Address: atucker@greaterportlandhealth.org Website Address: https://www.greaterportlandhealth.org/ Funds Requested: $106,621.10 Portland Community Health Center (Portland CHC) provides comprehensive primary health care with integrated behavioral health and specialty services to the most vulnerable populations in the Greater Portland, Maine area. As the only Ryan White Part C provider and FQHC in Maine’s most urbanized area, Portland CHC plays a key role in providing crucial dental services for underserved populations who have very limited choices in the region. This is especially true for the Ryan White patient population who are at higher risk for a number of oral disorders, as well as increased comorbidity related to poor dental health. There are currently significant gaps in our aged dental equipment infrastructure that interfere with Portland CHC’s ability to provide quality care to the greatest number of patients in need. Much of the equipment at our 63 Preble Street location where all of our Ryan White patients are served has been inherited or donated from the City of Portland and has seen excessive use with age. These items often break down, requiring costly repairs. As all of the replacement equipment requested in this proposal is deemed essential, any repairs on the aged equipment must be performed immediately to avoid lapses in our Ryan White patients’ dental services. Replacing aged equipment with new equipment under warranty will help eliminate service gaps and substantially reduce ongoing repair costs. We request support to enhance and expand our Ryan White program’s oral health services infrastructure through the purchase and installation of essential dental equipment for the health center’s three dental operatories at our 63 Preble Street location. The purpose of this project is to improve our aged dental equipment infrastructure in order to effectively meet the needs of the target population: our existing Ryan White patients and the underserved populations at greatest risk for HIV. These capacity-building enhancements will allow providers more chairside time for education, next steps, or navigating referrals—thus building a relationship of trust between Portland CHC, RWHAP patients, and the community. New equipment will enhance and expand existing dental services by increasing efficiency and safety, improving Ryan White patient experiences, and providing more in-depth screenings. The outcome of this capacity building project will be better overall health outcomes and increased access to quality oral healthcare for Ryan White patients and underserved populations at greatest risk for HIV in the Greater Portland area.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).