St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen will announce Wednesday a major expansion of a free dental program for uninsured and low-income kids to cover all the city’s elementary schools.
Last year, the program treated 3,100 kids in four elementary schools, in the four neighborhoods that Coleman has targeted for his Invest St. Paul initiative. The expansion will use mobile dental units and is expected to serve all 44 elementary schools within two years.
Working with Children’s Dental Services, Smiles Across Minnesota, Delta Dental and other private supporters, the program focuses on preventive care without using city or school tax dollars.
The mayor, superintendent and representatives of the sponsoring groups will be at John A. Johnson Elementary School, 740 York Ave., at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday to announce the expansion.
