Firefly’s (firefly.kids) I-Smile program is hosting its 18th annual Give Kids a Smile event on Friday, February 7, offering free dental care exclusively for current Firefly clients in need. With 57% of Pottawattamie County children on Iowa Medicaid, access to oral health services is in crisis. Many local dentists cannot afford to accept Medicaid due to low reimbursement rates—just 37% of standard fees, with minimal increases over decades. This forces families to struggle with limited options for vital dental care.
Untreated dental caries, the most common chronic disease in children, leads to pain, infections and significant health and developmental issues. Firefly’s Give Kids a Smile Day event partners with local dentists like Broadway Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, My Pediatric Dentist—Bayliss Park, Valley View Dental and Omni Dental-Council Bluffs to address these gaps.
Families are selected based on need, citing barriers like lack of Medicaid-accepting providers, insurance or transportation. For details or to support this event, contact Liz Addison, I-Smile Coordinator, at (712) 828-4109.
Firefly provides free services to families in western Iowa who are expecting a child or have a child under five years old. Firefly is committed to assisting parents in their roles as their child’s first and most influential teacher by providing many services. To learn more, visit firefly.kids.