By Donald Gilpin

Addressing the need for accessible and affordable vision and dental care in the low to moderate-income (LMI) local population, Princeton Council has approved resolutions to renew federal programs that are fully funded by a HUD Community Development Block Grant.

“I’m thrilled that we’re continuing this,” said Councilwoman Leticia Fraga, as the Council at their June 24 meeting unanimously supported the resolution for the third year of the programs. “These are truly life-changing services that we’re providing.”

“Offering free dental and vision care to our LMI residents is an essential and impactful measure to guarantee fair access to vital health services,” Fraga added in a July 1 email. “For many, this is their first chance to receive such care, which is critical for their overall health.”

She continued, “Maintaining good dental health can prevent severe conditions like tooth decay, gum disease, and infections that affect nutrition and general well-being. Likewise, proper vision care enhances quality of life by enabling individuals to perform daily activities efficiently and safely, thereby boosting their educational and employment prospects. By investing in these essential services, we are promoting a healthier, more productive community and recognizing the dignity and value of every resident, irrespective of their financial situation.”

The resolution authorized an agreement for dental care for an amount not to exceed $17,014 for the dental practice of Lekha Tull on North Harrison Street and for vision care for an amount not to exceed $11,343 for Alma Jacobsen Family Eye Care and Contact Lens with offices in North Brunswick and Hamilton.

About 138 patients have been served by these programs since 2022, many of whom were visiting a dentist or ophthalmologist for the first time.

Jacobsen, who brings her practice to the Princeton Municipal Building about once a month to support the program, provides patients with a full comprehensive eye examination, checking vision and ocular health, and providing glasses when necessary. Her fluency in Spanish has helped her with the large number of Spanish-speaking program participants.

“I enjoy it,” she said. “I always believe in giving back, so this was a great opportunity to be able to do that. It’s very rewarding to be able to help people in that manner, especially for something as important as vision.”

She continued, “A lot of people take for granted that we have access to things like glasses or contact lenses when we need them, but when you’re talking about somebody who has no access, sometimes they have gone for years and years without anything to help their vision. They’ve been struggling for a while, and it’s nice to be able to help them. When they can see what the difference is in their vision with glasses, they’re often kind of amazed.”

Jacobsen noted that for problems like glaucoma or cataracts that need to be monitored in greater depth, the patients may come to her office for follow-up care.

Janak Tull, a general and cosmetic dentist who works with his mother Lekha at DenTull near the Princeton Shopping Center, is a strong advocate for the Community Development Block Grant Dental Care Program.

“It’s really an amazing program that I feel so fortunate to be able to be a part of,” he said. He noted that he speaks a bit of Spanish and he “knows the important dental words” in Spanish. “Most of my patients in the program are Hispanic,” he added, “and we have Spanish-speaking staff. In terms of really explaining the treatments and making sure the patients understand fully, we are really able to do it because of our staff members who are fluent in Spanish.”

Tull, who grew up in Princeton and attended schools here, emphasized the importance of supporting the community. “In this town community is strong,’ he said. “I wanted to be a part of the community and to give back to the community. These patients deserve good health and to be taken care of. Some of us are more fortunate financially than others, and the money we pay back into the community is well spent to help parts of the community stay healthy.”

Tull highlighted the role of dentists in alleviating pain. “When somebody comes into the office in pain and they leave not in pain I feel that I’ve offered something really valuable, and they’ve received something really valuable, and there’s a genuine gratefulness on both sides,” he said.

He concluded, “We all pay a fair amount in taxes to live here, and it’s nice to see the tax money going to something that is making the community stronger.”

Jeff Grosser, municipal deputy administrator /director of health, that has managed the dental program, pointed out the effective collaboration among municipal departments and community partners in driving the success of these initiatives.

“This program has had a big impact on overall community health,” he said, citing in particular the leadership of Health Outreach Coordinator Gwen Krol. “Oral health is crucial to overall health,” he added, “and vision and dental care have been forgotten health services in the past.”

He also applauded the work of Tull and Jacobsen, pointing to “high praise for their compassion and level of care.” Fraga echoed that high praise, describing the two health care providers as “enthusiastic in our shared interest in advancing health equity in Princeton.”

The Municipal Human Services Department and Affordable Housing in managing the vision program, along with the Health Department in managing the dental program, have worked together to conduct outreach and refer applicants to the appropriate provider.