Broomfield Health Event Brings Services to the Community, Offering Free Dental, Vision Care

Residents receive dental care during the June 13 event. (Courtesy of Jade Martin, Senior Design and Creative Marketing Manager for A Precious Child.)

A trio of nonprofit organizations teamed up in Broomfield in mid-June to offer free vision and dental care to community members.

Sponsored by the Colorado Community Health Alliance (CCHA), the daylong event provided 22 eye exams and eyeglasses as well as 19 dental cleanings, X-rays and fluoride treatments from the nonprofit organization A Precious Child, Deriting Dental and Eye Love Care, according to a media post from A Precious Child. The June 13 event was held at A Precious Child, 7051 W 118th Ave., Broomfield.

“For our community, we identified that often there are organizations that are doing really good work, but they may not know each other, or they need an opportunity to bring people together to be able to receive services “, declared the vice-president of the CCHA. » said President of Government Programs, Colleen Daywalt.

Daywalt said CCHA — a Medicaid entity that serves eight counties across the state — awarded grants to all three nonprofits, and the event was designed to bring them together under one roof to help have an even greater impact.

A Precious Child is a Broomfield-based nonprofit organization that helps children in need throughout the Front Range region by providing access to clothing, holiday gifts, programs and more. Deserving Dental is a nonprofit organization that provides dental care to underserved and vulnerable populations, such as low-income families, residents with developmental disabilities, and older adults. Eye Love Care, the third nonprofit at the event, provides eye care for community members on fixed incomes, such as regular exams and glasses.

“We wanted to bring these services directly to these members, instead of them having to go out and identify a provider that accepts Medicaid and go to these appointments,” Daywalt said. “We thought we would bring everyone directly to the members, instead of the members having to go to them.”

Daywalt said the event was a great success, as all families registered for services arrived for their appointments – there were no no-shows among them.

Natasha Crayton was among the attendees and six of her seven children were attending the event.

“I got a call about the event and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I’m all there,’” Crayton said.

She said that after an insurance error at her regular dentist, her children’s teeth had not been treated for some time, so the event was a great opportunity to catch up on cleanings and ensure their ongoing needs were met.

She also said the incentives offered by CCHA — an Amazon gift card, as well as toys and small gifts for children — did a great job of encouraging children to enjoy the event instead of watching it like an ordinary meeting.

Once services are provided, Maria Martinez, director of A Precious Child Empowerment Resource Center, said clients will likely need follow-up appointments. The organizations plan to hold a second event at A Precious Child in six months to do just that.