Human Services News

social work, social, worker, service, services, mental health, psychology, counseling, non profit, nonprofit, clinical, not-for-profit, opening, fair, link, links, organization, association, journal, school, msw, bsw, medical, welfare, child welfare, sociology, therapy, case management, case manager, casework, certification, recruitment, opportunity, site, bank, online, interview, salary, listing, director, direct care, social service, therapist, case worker, house parent, foster care, nurse, homeless, teacher, agency, agencies, occupational, risk, youth, program, substance abuse, human services, career, human service jobs, human service, corrections, counselor, rehabilitation, elderly, disabled, gerontology, aging, psychiatry, intern, internship, products, services, conferences, behavioral health, group home, needs, medical, outreach, grant writer, special, population, disorders, development, socail, socal

>Interest Areas
   Nonprofit News
   Children & Youth
   Civic Engagement
   Community Development
   Economic Security
   Education
   Health
   Homelessness
   Nutrition & Healthy Living
   Substance Abuse
   Nonprofit Management
>Featured Nonprofit Jobs
 
  Foundation Related Jobs
  Fundraising & Development Jobs
  Social Work Jobs
  Substance Abuse Jobs
  Program Director Jobs


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Feature Story 
December 24, 2007
A Toll of Poverty and Neglect in Kentucky's Teeth

From New York Times:

Dr. Smith, who runs a free dental clinic at a high school in one of Kentucky’s poorest counties, has a rare window on a state with the highest proportion of adults under 65 without teeth, where about half the population does not have dental insurance.

He struggles to counter the effects of the drastic shortage of dentists in rural areas and oral hygiene habits that have been slow to change.

Kentucky is among the worst states nationally in the proportion of low-income residents served by free or subsidized dental clinics, and less than a fourth of the state's dentists regularly take Medicaid, according to 2005 federal data.

The state dental director, Dr. Julie Watts McKee, said that last year, Medicaid reimbursement for children's dental services was raised by about 30 percent.

But even with this increase, which was paid for by cutting orthodontic benefits, reimbursement fees remain about 50 percent below market rate, said Dr. Ken Rich, the state's dental director for Medicaid.

He sells a pair of dentures for $400 that many dentists sell for more than $1,200.

"Bootleggers exist here for a reason," Mr. Anderson said.

While Kentucky may have some of the worse oral health problems in the nation, it is by no means alone.

Residents in neighboring states across the region suffer similar dental problems for many of the same reasons --- inadequate access to dental care or the inability to pay for a dentist, widespread use of chewing tobacco and a pervasive assumption that losing teeth is simply part of growing old.

West Virginia, for example, which has the highest proportion of people over 65 without teeth, also has one of the lowest percentages of adults who visit the dentist at least once a year.


Posted on December 24, 2007 5:51 AM


Untitled Document News from Leading Foundations
Foundation News Government News Children News
Youth News Community Building News Education News
Civic Engagement News Health News Arts News
Environmental News

Email this Article
Bookmark & Share this Page
AddThis Social Bookmark Button
News from the Largest Foundations
More Foundation News...
Related Foundation Grants
Recent Foundation Grants
Praxis Project Inc.
$900,000 from the Ford Foundation
IssueLab
$500,000 from the Hewlett Foundation
AJAMM Ministries International
$100,000 from the Ford Foundation
Berkeley Repertory Theatre
$480,000 from the Hewlett Foundation
More on HandsNet
U.S. Education Secretary Appoints 16-Member Council to Advise on State Standards, Assessments and Accountability Systems

U.S. Department of Education Awards Idaho $3.4 Million Grant to Help Create More Charter Schools

U.S. Department of Education Awards Utah More Than an $8.5 Million Grant to Help Create More Charter Schools

Math gender gap is history


Articles From Our Sponsors
Creative Fund Raising Ideas

How to Start a Brick Fundraising

Candy Bars for Fundraising

Nonprofit Auction Tips - eBay Courses – Are They Worth It?

 
Since launching the first online network for activists in 1987, HandsNet has aggregated current human services and community development information important to low-income communities and communities of color. We seek to foster comprehensive thinking on approaches to improving the lives of people living in these communities.
    Government Funding  |   Foundation Grants    
Grants Available
beta!

Internet Marketing tips for your Organization

Get Dynamic Content for Your Website

Post Human Services Headlines - Updated Daily

Get the latest Human Services info
delivered to your email weekly!
Subscribe to the Human Services Digest.

HomeAbout HandsNet Training and CapacityAlertsContact UsAnnouncements

Visit these sites in the Information Organizers Network
Educational Funding | Management Articles | Online Business Ideas | Business Success Stories | Credit Repair Secrets | Free List of Baby Girl Names | Health Foundation Grants | Baby Name Popularity Graph | Starting an Online Small Business | Children and Youth Grants | 1000 Popular Baby Names | Philanthropy Websites | Entrepreneur and Home Business | Ideas for Fundraising Activities | Small Businesses to Start | Ideas for Starting Your Own Business | Small Business Management Articles | Civic Engagement Grants | Prosperous Spirit | Fundraising for Youth Programs
Edited by:Michael Saunders

©2008 Information Organizers, LLC