For the third year in a row, the Maryland Department of Health, Office of Oral Health has awarded funding to support specialty dental care for Care for Kids (CFK) participants. Not only will this Fiscal Year 2027 funding support much-needed complex care; it creates pathways for routine oral healthcare for these children.
Specialty dental care unlocks regular dental access
The Care for Kids (CFK) program offers more than access to medical primary care—participants have access to routine oral health services as well. The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human services operates dental clinics in five locations, providing an important access point for uninsured residents. Yet many CFK participants present each year with dental needs that are too complex for the county dental clinics to address. Routine dental access for these children requires an extra intervention.
When County dental staff identity CFK participants who need complex care, they refer them to the Primary Care Coalition’s (PCC) CFK Nurse Case Manager for specialty dental service coordination. For many participants, an initial course of specialty dental treatment can help ensure access to routine primary dental care as they grow.
Program serves children from low-income households
PCC administers the Care for Kids (CFK) program, a public-private partnership serving children from households earning less than 250% of the Federal Poverty Level and who are uninsured. The program served 10,062 children in fiscal year 2025 (FY25), with participants representing a diverse population of children from 91 different countries of origin and 47 different primary languages. Spanish was the primary language for 92% of children.
Many new CFK enrollees have only recently settled in our community. Of the 1,400 newly-enrolled children, 72% (1,008) were resettling in our community following detention at the US/Mexico border.
Household income was below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for 59% of FY25 participants. Put in context, the 2023 FPL for a similarly sized household of $30,000, versus the 2023 self-sufficiency standard of $111,536 for two adults and two school-aged children, according to the Maryland 2023 Self-Sufficiency Standard Calculator. This is not a patient population who can self-pay for specialty dental care.
PCC bundles funding to meet service needs
In FY25, County dental staff identified 64 children in need of specialized care, with an average cost per child of more than $1,500. CFK collaborated with contracted providers to ensure these children received appropriate treatment. Of those children, 33% were aged 13-19, 58% were aged 6-12, and 9% were aged 3-5. The number of patients includes 6 children receiving oral surgery, 3 children receiving endodontic services, and 2 receiving multidisciplinary services (ex. endodontic treatment and oral surgery). Treatments provided included extractions, composites, crowns, pulp vitality tests, pulpotomy, space maintainers, seals, films, occlusions, and different levels of sedation. To provide the total needed care—valued at $106,148—PCC leveraged multiple funding sources, including County funding (55.5% of the total), grants and donations (36.3%), and discounted/donated services (8.2%). Thank you to the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services; the Maryland Department of Health, Office of Oral Health; the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation; and partner providers for making this care possible!
These combined efforts mean most children will be able to use the County dental clinics for routine care in the future—providing a regular dental home to support healthy development.
This article has not been reviewed or approved by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.
Specialty dental care unlocks regular dental access
The Care for Kids (CFK) program offers more than access to medical primary care—participants have access to routine oral health services as well. The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human services operates dental clinics in five locations, providing an important access point for uninsured residents. Yet many CFK participants present each year with dental needs that are too complex for the county dental clinics to address. Routine dental access for these children requires an extra intervention.
When County dental staff identity CFK participants who need complex care, they refer them to the Primary Care Coalition’s (PCC) CFK Nurse Case Manager for specialty dental service coordination. For many participants, an initial course of specialty dental treatment can help ensure access to routine primary dental care as they grow.
Program serves children from low-income households
PCC administers the Care for Kids (CFK) program, a public-private partnership serving children from households earning less than 250% of the Federal Poverty Level and who are uninsured. The program served 10,062 children in fiscal year 2025 (FY25), with participants representing a diverse population of children from 91 different countries of origin and 47 different primary languages. Spanish was the primary language for 92% of children.
Many new CFK enrollees have only recently settled in our community. Of the 1,400 newly-enrolled children, 72% (1,008) were resettling in our community following detention at the US/Mexico border.
Household income was below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for 59% of FY25 participants. Put in context, the 2023 FPL for a similarly sized household of $30,000, versus the 2023 self-sufficiency standard of $111,536 for two adults and two school-aged children, according to the Maryland 2023 Self-Sufficiency Standard Calculator. This is not a patient population who can self-pay for specialty dental care.
PCC bundles funding to meet service needs
In FY25, County dental staff identified 64 children in need of specialized care, with an average cost per child of more than $1,500. CFK collaborated with contracted providers to ensure these children received appropriate treatment. Of those children, 33% were aged 13-19, 58% were aged 6-12, and 9% were aged 3-5. The number of patients includes 6 children receiving oral surgery, 3 children receiving endodontic services, and 2 receiving multidisciplinary services (ex. endodontic treatment and oral surgery). Treatments provided included extractions, composites, crowns, pulp vitality tests, pulpotomy, space maintainers, seals, films, occlusions, and different levels of sedation. To provide the total needed care—valued at $106,148—PCC leveraged multiple funding sources, including County funding (55.5% of the total), grants and donations (36.3%), and discounted/donated services (8.2%). Thank you to the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services; the Maryland Department of Health, Office of Oral Health; the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation; and partner providers for making this care possible!
These combined efforts mean most children will be able to use the County dental clinics for routine care in the future—providing a regular dental home to support healthy development.
This article has not been reviewed or approved by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.
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