ULLIN – The Southern 7 Health Department is proud to announce it is the recipient of a $20,000 Community Grant from the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation.

The funds will be used to expand oral health education and preventive services across the seven southernmost counties of Illinois, a region with critical shortages of dental providers, high poverty rates, and persistent barriers to oral health care.

Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation’s Community Grants Program provides funding to organizations that provide oral health care and/or education. With the help of its community grant recipients, the Foundation is able to improve access to care in all areas of the state.

In 2025, Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation awarded over $270,000 to 29 nonprofit and community organizations, including the Southern 7 Health Department, through its annual Community Grants Program. Each organization shares the Foundation’s mission of improving health and well-being throughout Illinois, especially for children.

The Southern 7 Health Department is a public health department that serves communities of the seven southernmost counties in Illinois focusing on disease prevention, promoting healthy lifestyles, ensuring access to healthcare services, and serves as the Head Start Grantee for the region.