COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - STAR COMMUNITY HEALTH (SCH) DENTAL PROGRAM CURRENTLY PROVIDES ORAL HEALTH CARE VIA MOBILE DENTAL VANS TO STUDENTS IN LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES WHILE THEY ARE AT SCHOOL, GIVING THEM EASY ACCESS TO NECESSARY DENTAL CARE. FUNDING FROM HRSA THROUGH THE CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING PROJECT WILL ENABLE SCH TO PURCHASE A DENTAL VAN TO SERVE STUDENTS AT THREE OF THE FOUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN NEIGHBORING MONROE COUNTY. AS PER THE HRSA RURAL ANALYZER, MANY PARTS OF MONROE COUNTY ARE CATEGORIZED AS RURAL. IT IS WELL CITED THAT RURAL RESIDENTS HAVE HEALTH INEQUITIES DUE TO LIMITED ACCESS TO CARE, POOR DIETS, LACK OF TRANSPORTATION AND THEY OFTEN HAVE NO INSURANCE OR ARE UNDERINSURED. SCH'S 3 EXISTING DENTAL VANS ARE CURRENTLY COMMITTED TO SERVING OTHER SCHOOLS AND LACK THE CAPACITY TO ADD ADDITIONAL SITES IN MONROE COUNTY. SCH DENTAL PROGRAM IS COMMITTED TO SERVE ALL THOSE NEEDING DENTAL CARE, REGARDLESS OF INSURANCE STATUS OR THE ABILITY TO PAY. PATIENTS RECEIVE ROUTINE CARE AND RESTORATIVE CARE ON THE DENTAL VANS. PROVIDERS ALSO EDUCATE CHILDREN ABOUT PROPER ORAL HYGIENE TECHNIQUES AND HOW ORAL HEALTH IS LINKED TO OVERALL HEALTH. MONROE COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA HAS A HIGH MEDICAID POPULATION, WITH 17% OF CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY AND 27.8% OF THE POPULATION LIVING BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. MORE THAN 50% OF SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN RECEIVE FREE OR REDUCED LUNCHES AT SCHOOLS TO HELP COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY. THE DENTAL VAN IN MONROE COUNTY WILL ADDRESS SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITIES AS THE DENTAL SERVICES WILL BE UTILIZED BY CHILDREN WHO WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE. THIS IN TURN HELPS TO ELIMINATE EMERGENT MEDICAL NEEDS OF THIS POPULATION, ANCILLARY COSTS FOR MEDICATIONS, EQUIPMENT AND FOLLOW UP CARE. NONCOMPLIANCE WITH DENTAL CARE CAN LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CARE ISSUES. ORAL PAIN IS THE SECOND HIGHEST NON-EMERGENT REASON THAT PEOPLE UTILIZE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE ST. LUKE'S NETWORK. MANY OF THESE PATIENTS ARE ON MEDICAID AND MOST DENTISTS IN OUR REGION DO NOT ACCEPT MEDICAID BECAUSE OF THE LOW REIMBURSEMENT RATES. PROVIDING DENTAL SERVICES IN LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES HELPS REDUCE UNNECESSARY ED USAGE. INVESTING IN THIS PROGRAM IS ALSO AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE. BY IMPROVING ACCESS TO CARE FOR THE STUDENTS WE ARE HELPING TO REINFORCE THE VALUE OF HEALTHCARE, SETTING THE CHILDREN UP FOR HEALTHY LIFESTYLES IN THE FUTURE.