Whittier Street Health Center officially opened new facilities on November 21, marking an expansion of its dental and vision care services. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held at the center’s Roxbury headquarters, introduced three new exam rooms, upgraded X-ray and sterilization facilities, and a mobile vision and dental van to broaden community access.
Frederica Williams, president and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center, said the expanded services aim to connect more patients to care and address gaps in dental health.
“These services are critical in addressing health equity, social justice, and the economic well-being of our diverse patients and community,” Williams said.
The expansion is expected to increase patient capacity significantly. In its first two years, the mobile van is projected to provide 2,000 dental visits for 1,000 patients and nearly 2,300 vision visits annually. The new dental exam rooms could serve an additional 5,000 patients.
Currently, the health center faces a waitlist of about 2,000 patients for dental appointments and 1,000 for vision care. Long waits have made follow-up care challenging.
“We hope to get patients in when they need care and ensure proper follow-up,” Williams said.
According to a 2024 U.S. Centers for Disease Control report, nearly 21% of adults aged 20 to 60 had untreated tooth decay, while about 50% of children aged six to nine had decayed, filled, or missing teeth. The report also noted that lower-income populations experience worse dental health outcomes.
Matilda Drayton, chair of the Alice Taylor Apartments advisory council, highlighted the importance of local, trusted care. “It’s not like going into a dentist’s office where you don’t know anyone. Residents have a relationship with the center, and that makes a big difference,” she said.
Dr. Rene Crichlow, chief medical officer at Codman Square Health Center, attended the ribbon-cutting and praised the initiative as a demonstration of community commitment. “They’re bringing dental and eye care directly to housing developments, meeting people where they are,” Crichlow said.
The new mobile van joins Whittier Street’s existing fleet of five vans, which provide primary care, vaccinations, infectious disease services, social services, and behavioral health care. The vans serve public housing developments, schools, and key community areas such as Nubian Square and Mass and Cass.
Williams emphasized the importance of mobile outreach in communities with transportation challenges, demanding work schedules, or limited insurance. “We’re able to remove barriers and meet people where they are,” she said.
The expansion also includes workforce development. Fifteen Boston Public Schools students were hired and trained as dental assistants to support the mobile van.
Crichlow noted that advances in technology have enhanced mobile healthcare delivery. “When we go into the community, we can diagnose problems and start addressing them immediately. It’s an exciting time for mobile health care,” she said.
Funding for the expansion came from a mix of private and federal sources. In-building expansion was supported by dental and vision insurance provider Altus Dental, which aims to increase affordable care access.
Joseph Perroni, president and CEO of Altus Dental, said, “We hope this is just the beginning of a long and meaningful partnership with Whittier Street Health Center.”
The mobile van was funded with nearly $400,000 from the federal Department of Health and Human Services. Williams noted that while the center has not received new federal funding this year, the previous support was critical in moving the project forward.
“I remember last July, sitting in my office writing that proposal. That opportunity allowed us to make this plan a reality,” Williams said.
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