BELTON, Mo., (Jun 29, 2026) – Cass Community Health Foundation has been awarded a $400,000 grant from Health Forward Foundation to support its ongoing efforts to expand access to dental care for underserved families throughout Cass County and surrounding communities.
The 24-month grant, which runs from July 1, 2026, through July 1, 2028, will support the foundation’s safety-net dental clinic, Cass County Dental Clinic, and help ensure children and families continue to receive essential oral health services regardless of access to dental care. The clinic serves children and adolescents ages 0–20 who are insured through Missouri Medicaid or are uninsured and financially qualify for services. Adult family members of children currently receiving care and pregnant people can also be treated if insured through Missouri Medicaid.
Health Forward Foundation has been a longstanding partner of Cass Community Health Foundation, supporting its mission since 2009 when community leaders first began discussing the significant unmet dental needs of underserved children in Cass County. The foundation provided the initial funding needed to purchase dental equipment and launch the first Cass County Dental Clinic in Belton, which opened on July 5, 2011. In 2015, Health Forward Foundation also awarded a $75,000 grant to help open the clinic’s rural Harrisonville location, a project that increased access to dental care for residents in the rural areas of Cass County by 53%.
Including this latest award, Health Forward Foundation has invested more than $3.3 million in support of dental care initiatives serving children and families in Cass County.
“We are deeply grateful for Health Forward Foundation’s continued partnership and belief in our mission,” said Cynthia Randazzo, President and CEO of Cass Community Health Foundation. “For more than 15 years, Health Forward has helped us remove barriers to care and create healthier futures for thousands of children and families. Their support ensures we can continue serving as a vital safety net for those who need dental care most.”
Cass Community Health Foundation remains committed to improving oral health outcomes and ensuring every child can achieve a healthy smile. Learn more about the foundation at casscommunityhealth.org and visit Cass County Dental Clinic’s website at casscountydentalclinic.org.
