Total Dollars Awarded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: $371,000 over a 48 month period (August 1, 2000 – July 31, 2004)

Grantee: Kids in Need of Dentistry, Denver, CO

Primary Objective: To increase access to comprehensive dental services by: bringing affordable dental services to children; providing communities with the expertise of a public health dentist and program; servicing a larger geographic area, which will reach more children in traditionally remote communities with few dental resources; and enabling communities to integrate this dental program into existing services and health programs.

List of Co-Funder Organizations:

• Adolph Coors Foundation
• American Legion Auxiliary
• Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Colorado
• Caring for Colorado
• Colorado Dental Hygienists Association
• Comprecare Foundation
• Denver Post Ride the Rockies (fund of McCormick Tribune Foundation)
• Denver Post Season to Share (fund of McCormick Tribune Foundation)
• El Pomar Foundation
• HeathONE Alliance
• Kaiser Permanente
• Kenneth Kendal King Foundation
• Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing, Ltd. · Vail Resorts, Inc.
• WB2 Charities (fund of McCormick Tribune Foundation)
• Wells Fargo Bank
• Western Union First Data Corporation

Accomplishments: The program targets children up to age 18 of families with low incomes living in 11 Western Slope communities and the Southern Ute Nation. Measurable goals are two-fold: 1) 12 patient visits/day and/or 2,100 patient visits in a program year; and, 2) to deliver a value of dental service equal to $2,400/day and/or $360,000/program year. In three years, 5,630 patient visits were completed with a corresponding $1,345,375 value of service provided. Also, dental health education was provided to 9,456 students at more than 50 schools. Most importantly, each year more kids have been served and the value of service provided has increased more than 80%!

Fundraisers and publicity opportunities have been unique; e.g. the 36’ mobile van served as a ‘pace car’ at the organization’s Rocky Mountain Vintage Car Race fundraiser. During its break at the end of August, the van was stationed for a week as an educational exhibit at the State Fair in Pueblo. During its three month winter hiatus, the van operated outside the Colorado Springs KIND clinic (now open).

One area has graduated from the program, specifically, Montrose. A fixed clinic has been established in Montrose after the program increased public awareness of the area’s dental needs of children.

Challenges: Recruiting staff to serve in remote areas and live in motels for the duration of tours has presented challenges. In addition, maintaining cohesiveness of “team” when people are working together at distances has presented challenges.

Lessons Learned: Communication and trust are key among staff and related community agencies as is the establishment of a “team” approach to treating the children served by this program.

Future Plans: Due to the program’s successes, i.e. our graduates, RFP’s are being distributed to select new service sites for the 2003-2004 program year.

Graduates 2003