The American Dental Association Foundation has created a disaster relief fund to support dentists affected by natural disasters.
Grants will be given to state dental associations and their affiliated foundations, according to a Feb. 25 news release. States are eligible to receive up to $25,000, depending on the severity of the disaster, the number of dentists affected and the amount of funds available at the time of the disaster.
States must apply for a grant within 60 days of a natural disaster. If approved, states are required to distribute individual grants to dentists in line with IRS disaster relief guidelines. The ADA noted that grants are to be used for dentists’ short-term, personal needs — food, water and clothing, for example — and cannot be used for practice-related expenses, such as property, supplies or staff wages.
The ADA added that states will be expected to report back on how funds are used.
