Ryan White Title III HIV Capacity Development and Planning Grants - West County Health Centers, Inc. is a private, non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center consisting of ten primary care clinics that have been the sole providers of primary medical, dental and behavioral health services for rural community residents in western Sonoma County, California for fifty years. Our mission is to provide comprehensive and high quality health care services to the communities of western Sonoma County. We are a cohesive team of health care providers, support staff, and volunteers dedicated to wellness, compassion, affordability and excellence of care. WCHC is requesting $150,000 to support the purchase of new dental equipment to be utilized at the Russian River Dental Clinic, where the Ryan White Part C Early Intervention Program is based for the purpose of developing, enhancing, and expanding oral health services for people with HIV. WCHC is proposing to purchase new dental equipment under the Infrastructure Development category for Dental Equipment for Expanding Dental Service Capacity. Enhancing WCHC’s capacity to serve additional patients, reduce wait times for appointments and provide more complex dental procedures for the low-income and un/underinsured HIV+ population that reduces costly referrals outside the region, eliminates transportation challenges, and improves adherence to treatment plans to maintain positive oral health is a critical concern. For more than 40 years, WCHC has provided dedicated oral health services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS at its two dental locations and is the only safety-net dental provider that serves the HIV population on a sliding fee scale. Comprehensive dental care, including diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic and restorative services, is provided for HIV patients on-site as an integral part of our Health Center’s general dental program. The availability of community-based dental services has been invaluable in the identification of patients who are in need of treatment to maintain and restore oral health and eliminate infection, and diminution of wasting syndrome.
