I got to see first hand how the I Smile program helps children. I went to observe at one of the elementary schools that they were providing services(sealants, oral hygiene instructions, and dental screenings) for that day. The elementary kids were excited, the Dental Hygiene students who were providing the services were excited. It is amazing in today's world how many children do not have access to dental care. Granted this was limited care, but it was a start. Through the screenings if the child needed more dental care, letters and follow up calls were provided. This is an awesome much needed program. Every school from early elementary to high school should have this program.
For nearly the last 6 years I have watched our preschool children and now more recently birth to age 3
clients benefit from the I-Smile dental home project. I want to think that the work of the dental
hygienists will continue many more years. What do they do? Provide valuable services for children and families relating to dental health and oral care. They come into our classrooms assessing
children’s risks for tooth decay and provide protection in the form of varnish applications until a visit
to the dentist can be scheduled. Often this is the first time children receive any type of dental care and the staff returns to our classrooms to repeat services for children at risk preventing the need for
expensive dental treatments in the Emergency Room or hospital. Even with limited funding when out of pocket dental costs make it difficult for families to complete necessary treatment they assist families in obtaining care. With the goal of prevention they educate about oral habits, inform parents about proper care of teeth and gums, and provide dietary counseling. The staff is a valuable component of our Health Services Advisory Committee. They recruit dentists to serve our
families so they have an ongoing source of regular dental care as well.
I love the one on one serve you receive from Family Inc. More students are helped and seen with the Dental Clinics that are offered in the schools. Our families really like the idea of their students getting their teeth cleaned without having to find a ride or take time off work.
Family Inc is an amazing program and has definitely made an impact in our community. Connie Gronstal is the piece in this puzzle that brings it together and makes it the success that it is. Her love of families, her community and people, in general, are why this program is such a successful one.
Family is a wonderful program that greatly impacts our community. The staff is very helpful and welcoming to the families. I hope they continue this service for years to come. Thanks for all you do.
Family Inc provides valuable services to the community. The staff and volunteers are extremely helpful and knowlegeable. They offer a variety of volunteer and internship opportunities for students and community members, and they are very easy to work with on a regular basis. I highly recommend this organization as a community partner. --Service-Learning Office, Iowa Western Community College
FAMILY is a wonderful program that came as an unexpected surprise. As new parents, my wife and I were looking for some outside expert advice on a whole host of issues. FAMILY group meetings and in home visits helped our daughter and our family tremendously. We were given tons of information on child development, parenting tips, educational material, toys, books, and more. Our child was also given a number of tests to determine proper motor coordination, development, and even a hearing test. I am very grateful that we discovered FAMILY, as they have been such a tremendous part of our family which is why I choose to give back and spread the word as much as possible.
We have been with Family for approximately 2 years. We started in they playgroups and then were added to the program. We attend classes offered to better improved our parenting style because every parent with agree their wasn't a child manual that you recived at the hospital when you delivered, playgroups and summer activities. My son has made many friends through group and so have I. He looks forward to seeing his Early childhood educator. He has to show her all the new things he has done since the last time she visited. He also talked about her visit to his pre-school for days. As a parent when I was a stay at home mom they gave me that piece of mind every week of adult conversation, they helped me work thru my fears of child care when I decided to go back to work part time and made scheduling visits easy due to my work schedule. If I could summarize everything about Family into a few words it would being Caring for families as a whole.
I have been a volunteer for FAMILY for about two years and I feel that I have gained more than I have given. As a grandparent I have learned from everyone at FAMILY during my visits and know that every person that comes through the doors or have the benefit of FAMILY through home visits is a better parent. All of this helps our each of us be stronger as individuals and as a community.
FAMILY has been a fantastic resource for me, as a first time mom. The information provided and connections made here are invaluable.
FAMILY is a fantastic nonprofit that helps families in Pottawattamie County. The services they offer are very beneficial to the youth in this area.
Our experience with Family INC has been nothing but positive. Through Give a Kid a Smile, we have been able to obtain dental services for a very underserved population of our students. These folks have come into our elementary school setting to provide dental health education, flouride/varnishes, dental screening, and referrals to local dentists who have provided dental care for these uninsured children . Ultimtely these serivces will impact their dental health for years to come. We are very fortunate to have these services provided through Family INC.
FAMILY is a fantastic nonprofit that helps families and their children throughout Pottawattamie County. The parenting classes offer a great way for parents and their children to interact with each other.
FAMILY has been instrumental in proving services to families an children in the community. Their caring staff are innovation and always willing to partner on behalf of kids. I appreciate the efforts of FAMILY INC. to improve a community that desperately needs the help.
I considered myself lucky to have friends and family around me when I had my kids. Not everyone is that lucky and it's and organization like FAMILY, Inc. that helps these families and children. I had heard about FAMILY, Inc. but wasn't really familiar with their mission or what they were all about. I started out by just helping out with one of their events but as I read more about the mission and how much of an impact help can make to a family or child between the ages of birth to 5, I decided I wanted to become more involved.
I began volunteering for FAMILY in high school. I have continued to volunteer over the years. Its amazing to see the change in families over the years. Parents leave the program with amazing confidence in their ability as parents. All parents need support and this program not only provides that, but changes the lives of the children forever.
I joined the program when my daughter was born back in 2001. I don't have much for family so it was so nice to have my home visiter come out and go over where my daughter should be on things she should be able to do by what age she was at and showed us differant things to do with our daughter to enteract and teach her by playing and doing differant things with her. My daughter was always so excited when our home visiter would come and she got to see her and all the interesting learning tools she would bring with her. It was like she was a part of our family, to this day we still keep in touch with her and me and my daughter now spend time at the office helping out when they need it.