Manor College Receives IBX Foundation Blue Safety Net Grant for Dental Health Center

This is the sixth year Manor College has received funds from the Blue Safety Net Grant.

The Independence Blue Cross Foundation selected Manor College to receive a grant through the Blue Safety Net program in July.

“This would be our sixth year in a row receiving funding from the IBX Foundation–and their support has been essential to our success,” said Jaime Simpson, Dean of Allied Health Sciences. “The Blue Safety Net grant has truly been a ‘safety net’ to keep our mission of serving the community’s needs and also preparing our students to become licensed oral health professionals.

The grant will help provide general operating support for the Dental Health Center on Manor’s campus.

Established in 1979, the Dental Health Center functions as a full-service dental facility for the community while also serving as a teaching facility for Manor’s dental programs because it is a teaching facility, dental services are offered at rates that are about 50 percent lower than the average fee in surrounding area private practices.

More than 1,300 patients receive care through the Dental Health Center. The center’s mission is to build a bigger future of community health, increase access to quality and affordable dental care, facilitate experiential learning and provide prevention education.

“When inflation of supplies and wages is at an all-time high, this grant provides the support needed to continue with our goals and activities,” Simpson said. “The Foundation also helps their partners foster relationships with one another and provides collaboration efforts through their partnership networking meetings to address many obstacles clinics face. We are grateful to be part of this network and Foundation.”

The Blue Safety Net Grant is awarded to nonprofit, privately funded community health centers that provide free or affordable care to diverse communities across the region.