Photo provided by McMillen Health

News Release

FORT WAYNE — McMillen Health, one of four independently operated health education organizations in the U.S., received a $25,672 grant from the K21 Health Foundation to support the implementation of the Brush Oral Health Program in Kosciusko County.

McMillen Health’s Brush Program is designed to promote dental health and hygiene among preschool aged children and their caregivers, aiming to provide knowledge for healthy dental habits to reduce dental decay among preschool aged children.

Due to misconceptions about primary teeth, early childhood dental decay remains an epidemic. One in five children, 23%, have untreated dental decay. With this grant, McMillen Health will be able to expand their efforts to improve dental wellbeing among preschool children in Kosciusko County.

“We are absolutely delighted and grateful to receive this grant from the K21 Health Foundation,” said Nicole Fairchild, CEO of McMillen Health. “Through our Brush Program, we are able to teach young children the importance of dental health and provide parents and caregivers the resources needed to improve their child’s overall health and wellbeing outcomes.”

Funding from the K21 Health Foundation support a range of initiatives within the Brush Program, including empowering caregivers to understand the necessity of healthy dental hygiene, the importance of establishing a dental home by age 1, good nutrition and limiting sugar and daily care of primary teeth. McMillen’s Brush Program will also help early interventionists realize the effect poor dental health has on school readiness and success.

Kosciusko County is home to thousands of children in need of effective dental health resources and education. McMillen Health’s Brush Program aims to address this vital public health concern and foster a positive impact on the lives of young individuals throughout the county.