Attorney General Neronha and Rhode Island Foundation to accept applications for $10 million in funding to address youth dental care for Providence children
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha and the Rhode Island Foundation today announced they are accepting proposals for future grant awards from $10 million in funding directed to improve access to dental care services for Providence city youth.
“Whenever this Office brings cases that result in legal success, we think carefully about how those wins can translate into direct, impactful benefit for Rhode Islanders,” said Attorney General Neronha. “From enforcing lead poisoning prevention laws to fighting for clean air and water for our communities to working to protect safety-net hospitals, this Office has consistently prioritized giving our children the best chance at success. The lack of pediatric dental care for Providence children is an urgent and completely unmet healthcare issue, and my hope is that with this program, we can take immediate action to alleviate this crisis. I am grateful to our partners at the Department of Environmental Management and the Rhode Island Foundation for their assistance in this matter.”
According to the Rhode Island Department of Health, one in three kindergarteners and almost half of all third graders in the state experience tooth decay – a situation that is particularly dire in Providence. According to data collected by dentists who serve children in Providence public schools, each school year hundreds of elementary and middle school students have unmet dental care needs, like deep cavities, gum infections, abscesses, and tooth decay. Moreover, multiple studies have highlighted oral health disparities by socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity. Children attending schools with more than 75% of their students eligible for free or reduced school meals, including many in the Providence Public School District, are twice as likely to have untreated tooth decay than those in wealthier districts.
The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 6/10 Children’s Fund was established at the Rhode Island Foundation in May 2025 with $10 million in funding, to be spent within 10 years. This fund was created following a civil settlement between Barletta Heavy Division (Barletta) and the Attorney General to resolve criminal charges alleging violations of Rhode Island solid waste laws. As part of the Settlement, Barletta admitted that it deposited contaminated fill at the 6/10 project site and submitted false documents to the State to cover it up.
For this initial funding opportunity, we welcome proposals to improve access to oral health services for children in Providence, with specific focus on the Olneyville, West End, and Silver Lake neighborhoods. Nonprofit, 501(c)3 organizations are eligible to apply. Grants are expected to range from $250,000 to $3,000,000. Proposals may be for projects that are up to three years in duration.
For more information about applying for a grant, visit rifoundation.org/610ChildrensFund. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
To learn more about the State’s settlement with Barletta, read our press release
