2025 Council on Culture & Arts Grant Programs

The District of Columbia Department of Health (DC Health) is offering the Senior Dental Services Program to promote the dental health and welfare of District residents aged 65 and older. This grant aligns with a mission to engage seniors in quality, comprehensive dental care, ensuring access to essential health services for an vulnerable population. The funding aims to support dental practices experienced in providing such care, emphasizing community well-being and health equity. The primary beneficiaries of this program are District residents aged 65 and older. The impact goals are centered on improving the dental health and welfare of these seniors, with a particular focus on increasing their engagement in comprehensive dental care. This initiative seeks to address the unique dental health challenges faced by older adults, ultimately enhancing their quality of life. The program prioritizes dental practices that are for-profit or non-profit, licensed in the District of Columbia, experienced in providing comprehensive services to seniors, actively billing DC Medicaid and Medicare, and experienced in charging patients according to a formal sliding-scale fee policy. These criteria ensure that the funding supports providers capable of delivering high-quality, accessible care to the target demographic, including those with limited financial resources. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in the number of seniors receiving comprehensive dental care and an improvement in the overall dental health status of District residents aged 65 and older. While the document does not explicitly detail DC Health's strategic priorities or theory of change beyond this program, the emphasis on promoting dental health and welfare for seniors strongly suggests an underlying commitment to public health, preventive care, and reducing health disparities within the community. The program's design, which includes specific eligibility criteria for dental practices and focuses on engaging seniors, reflects a theory of change that posits increased access to qualified providers will lead to improved health outcomes for the targeted population.