Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville receives $1.1M Congressional Directives grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration

Southern Illinois pediatric and special care dentistry access and capacity expansion project (edwardsville, il) - southern Illinois university school of dental medicine (siu sdm) requests $1,100,000 in HRSA cds funding to renovate and repurpose the existing 8,300-square-foot siue dental clinic in edwardsville, Illinois, into a dedicated pediatric and adult special care dentistry clinic. The facility is owned by southern Illinois university edwardsville and currently operates as a faculty practice clinic. No land acquisition is required. This project addresses a significant shortage of accessible dental services for medicaid-eligible children and adults with intellectual, developmental, physical, and medically complex conditions across southern and central Illinois. Approximately 23,550 children in the region have identified special dental care needs, and many of the 11 counties served are federally designated dental health professional shortage areas (hpsas). Current siu sdm pediatric and special care services are concentrated in the alton clinic, which operates near capacity and limiting access for high-need populations. The proposed project will transform the edwardsville facility into a fully ADA-compliant, modern dental clinic designed to expand access, increase patient capacity, and improve care delivery efficiency. It will also support interdisciplinary education across dentistry, medicine, and allied health programs. The renovated facility will serve as a regional hub for pediatric and special care dentistry and strengthen siu sdm’s safety-net role. Project scope includes architectural and engineering services; interior renovation of clinical space; construction of four (4) new dental operatories; conversion of four (4) operatories into pediatric quiet treatment rooms; installation of fixed clinical infrastructure including cabinetry and radiographic systems; HVAC, electrical, and plumbing upgrades; ADA accessibility improvements; expansion of patient parking and circulation infrastructure; and modernization of reception and waiting areas. The project also includes procurement of specialized movable dental equipment necessary for sedation, diagnostics, restorative care, and patient monitoring. Costs are aligned with HRSA sf-424C categories and include architectural and engineering services ($120,000), site work ($110,000), construction/renovation ($462,393.68), movable clinical equipment ($378,992.56), and a 5% contingency ($28,613.76). A contingency is included to address unforeseen conditions commonly encountered in renovation of existing healthcare facilities and will be restricted to eligible construction-related expenses. The project will be implemented over approximately 12–18 months, beginning within 60–90 days of award. Planning and design will occur from september–december 2026, followed by permitting and procurement in early 2027. Construction will occur from march–december 2027, with equipment installation completed by january 2028 and final clinical activation by february 2028. Upon completion, the project is expected to at least double annual pediatric and special needs patient visits, improve geographic access due to the edwardsville location’s highway proximity, and expand clinical training opportunities for dental students and residents. It will also free capacity in other siu sdm clinics for general dental care. Overall, the project will strengthen the regional safety-net system and expand access to comprehensive oral health services for underserved populations across southern and central Illinois.