Audio Clip
By Laura Weber
Governor Rick Snyder calls for an expansion of the state's Health Kids Dental program in his budget recommendations for the coming fiscal year.
Human services advocates are praising the decision.
Jane Zehnder-Merrell is with the Michigan League for Human Services. She said it's important to make sure all kids in Michigan have healthy teeth and mouths. And she's happy Governor Snyder recognizes that.
"It's very heartening to see this, because it is so critical not only to physical health but to academic performance and future employability, as well as adult chronic disease and problems."
Zehnder-Merrell said oral diseases and tooth decay can lead to serious medical conditions, and in some cases taxpayers would bear the cost of treating those conditions. She said dental care is a great preventative measure to keep kids healthy. But she said she thinks Governor Snyder could have gone farther with his budget proposals to make sure the state does more to reverse the trend of more kids and families living in extreme poverty.
Copyright 2010, MPRN
Governor Rick Snyder calls for an expansion of the state's Health Kids Dental program in his budget recommendations for the coming fiscal year.
Human services advocates are praising the decision.
Jane Zehnder-Merrell is with the Michigan League for Human Services. She said it's important to make sure all kids in Michigan have healthy teeth and mouths. And she's happy Governor Snyder recognizes that.
"It's very heartening to see this, because it is so critical not only to physical health but to academic performance and future employability, as well as adult chronic disease and problems."
Zehnder-Merrell said oral diseases and tooth decay can lead to serious medical conditions, and in some cases taxpayers would bear the cost of treating those conditions. She said dental care is a great preventative measure to keep kids healthy. But she said she thinks Governor Snyder could have gone farther with his budget proposals to make sure the state does more to reverse the trend of more kids and families living in extreme poverty.
Copyright 2010, MPRN
