- United Way North Central Florida awarded a $40,000 grant to ACORN Clinic to upgrade dental equipment and expand affordable care access.
- In 2024, emergency departments in six counties logged 3,868 dental visits highlighting unmet dental care needs among financially struggling residents.
United Way of North Central Florida (UWNCF) recently awarded a $40,000 Healthy Community Grant to the Alachua County Organization for Rural Needs (ACORN) Clinic to help expand access to affordable dental care for adults and families facing financial insecurity in North Central Florida.
According to a UWNCF release sent Monday, the grant will support the repair and replacement of critical dental technology and equipment at ACORN Clinic, helping modernize operations, improve patient safety and strengthen the clinic’s ability to provide efficient, high-quality oral health care.
Established in 1974, ACORN Clinic provides affordable health care services to patients throughout the region. Dental professionals and graduate students volunteer at the clinic, offering sliding-scale oral health care to individuals and families without insurance or the financial resources to pay privately for care.
The clinic serves residents facing financial hardship, including ALICE households — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — who earn above the federal poverty level but struggle to afford basic necessities.
“Oral health is not a luxury, it’s an essential part of a person’s overall health, ability to work, and quality of life,” said Amber Miller, president and CEO of UWNCF, in the release. “For ALICE households, an unexpected dental problem can quickly become a financial crisis, especially when affordable care is out of reach. Our investment in ACORN Clinic helps remove that barrier by strengthening access to quality dental care right here in our community. We’re proud to support ACORN’s work to ensure that financial circumstances don’t determine whether someone can get the care they need.”
Dental care is among the most commonly deferred forms of health care in the United States. According to UWNCF, 30% of adults below the ALICE threshold report going without needed dental care because of financial concerns.
In 2024, emergency departments in Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy and Union counties recorded 3,868 visits for dental conditions.
Emergency departments can provide temporary relief through antibiotics or pain medication, but they generally cannot provide the definitive dental treatment needed to address underlying problems. For local ALICE households, the cost of follow-up care can be prohibitive.
ACORN Clinic helps address this gap by providing preventive and restorative dental services to patients who might otherwise go without care. By supporting timely treatment, the clinic helps patients maintain their oral health and avoid complications associated with untreated dental conditions.
Access to dental care also affects employment and financial stability. Untreated dental problems can contribute to missed work, difficulty maintaining employment and reduced confidence in professional and social settings. ACORN’s services help patients address these challenges while supporting healthier individuals and families.
UWNCF’s investment in ACORN Clinic reflects its commitment to creating a healthier community by removing barriers to essential care. Guided by ALICE data, the organization directs community investments toward nonprofit programs that address critical needs and create pathways toward greater stability for households struggling to make ends meet.
Healthy Community is one of four strategic impact areas for UWNCF, alongside Financial Security, Youth Opportunity and Community Resiliency. Through partnerships with local nonprofits, the organization works to address challenges that prevent individuals and families from thriving.
UWNCF encourages residents, businesses and organizations to support these efforts through volunteering, donations and advocacy on behalf of ALICE households.
For more information about United Way North Central Florida’s initiatives or to get involved, visit www.unitedwayncfl.org.