Grant Dollars Allow Expanded Dental Services
The Hamilton County Health Department has awarded more than $3.2 million in Health First Indiana grants to local partners since the program’s launch in 2024. The funding comes from Senate Enrolled Act 4 which provides vital funding to local health departments to fund evidence-based programs in their communities.
Among the many recipients of those dollars in Hamilton County is Trinity Free Clinic in Carmel. HFI grant dollars have allowed the clinic to expand its free dental services, doubling the number of low-income, uninsured, and underinsured residents it serves. The clinic has also used the funds to purchase a state-of-the-art dental scanner and mill to provide same-day crowns and dentures.
“We are incredibly grateful for the funding from the Health First program,” says Mel Wischmeyer, Executive Director of Trinity Free Clinic. “We’ve seen firsthand how life-changing dental care can be for children and adults alike. For many, it’s not just about fixing teeth – it’s about restoring confidence, improving nutrition, and maintaining social connections.”
Trinity Free Clinic recently treated the victim of a violent assault whose mouth had been wired shut. Unable to afford dental care, the wires prevented him from speaking, eating, and brushing his teeth for two years. Trinity’s dentists removed the wires and developed a treatment plan to help restore his oral health.
“Unfortunately, stories like these are not all that uncommon,” Wischmeyer adds. ”We’ve met people denied promotions and demoted to lesser positions due to poor oral health. We recently helped a teen who wouldn’t eat lunch at school because she was too embarrassed to take out her poor functioning retainer in front of her friends. These are, in some cases, life-changing procedures.”
HFI funding has also enabled the Health Department to enhance local programs in mental health, maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, and emergency preparedness.
“We are excited to see the positive impact of these grants on our community,” said Jason LeMaster, Administrator of the Hamilton County Health Department. “By working together with partners like Trinity Free Clinic, we are ensuring that our residents, particularly children and underserved populations, get the health care they need.”
For more information on the Hamilton County Health Department’s Health First Indiana initiative, visit https://hamiltoncounty.in.gov/1858/Health-First-Hamilton-County, or to learn more about Trinity Free Clinic’s dental services, visit https://www.trinityfreeclinic.org/dental.