Linn County Family and Community Health Alliance, a program of HACAP, has received a grant of $59,000 from the Iowa Department of Public Health to develop a project in response to the Iowa Care Mandate which states that “by July 1st, 2008 every recipient of Medicaid assistance who is a child 12 years of age or younger shall have a designated dental home and shall be provided with dental screening and preventative care identified in the oral health standards under the Early and Periodic Screenings, Diagnosis and Treatment Program.”
The I-Smile Project, led by Oral Health Coordinator Trisha Willenborg, will provide education, support and resources to health professionals and community partners ensuring eligible children are being scheduled for, and completing necessary oral health screening and treatment. A referral network system is being established to link families to providers and support systems. Care coordination services will be available to eligible families to overcome barriers to receiving dental care for their children. The project will also provide educational presentations to area oral health professionals, medical providers, and to the community for the promotion of age appropriate dental care for children beginning with prevention assessments as early as 6 months of age.
Last year the Health Alliance received funds from Linn County Community Empowerment totaling more than $58,000 for the provision of dental screenings, fluoride applications, dental vouchers, and referrals for treatment to children ages 0-5 who also receive WIC, Head Start, or who have had services in the Health Alliance Well Child Screening Clinic. Two Dental Hygienists provide these services and work closely with the I-Smile Program for referral and follow-up assistance at 3 HACAP sites: Taylor, 720 7th Ave. SW Cedar Rapids; Urban 1328 2nd Ave. SE Cedar Rapids; and Marion, 3405 7th Ave. Ste. 100 in Marion.
These I-Smile and Empowerment Dental Programs are specific to Linn County; however there are I-Smile programs in counties throughout Iowa. For assistance please call Trisha Willenborg, I-Smile Oral Health Coordinator at (319) 366-7632 ext. 3043.
Outside of Linn County please contact your local Public Child Health Program