February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Approximately half of all American children don’t receive regular dental care due to social, economic and geographic barriers.
Access to dental care can shape a child’s health, confidence, and success in school. When oral health needs go unmet, the effects often show up in missed class time. That pain can disrupt learning and bring challenges that follow children well beyond childhood.
Supporting proper dental care for children and families is one of the most effective ways communities can help young people thrive.
United Way Impact 100 partner Cass Community Health Foundation focuses on increasing access to dental care with its safety net dental clinic, school-based screenings, and health scholarships.
“A lifetime of good oral health begins early, but getting started at any age is important,” said Cynthia Randazzo, Cass Community Health Foundation CEO. “When children learn proper oral hygiene habits early and have access to preventive dental care, they are far more likely to maintain those habits into adulthood.”
The long-term consequences of untreated dental issues can be significant.
“We see how dental pain interferes with a child’s ability to learn and feel confident. Those early issues can also lead to more complex and costly treatments later in life, including permanent tooth damage and increased health risks,” Randazzo said.
Some of the greatest barriers preventing underserved families from accessing dental care include lack of insurance coverage, transportation, access to providers, and low dental literacy regarding preventative care.
Cass County Dental Clinic, operated by Cass Community Health Foundation, provides comprehensive dental care for children and adolescents from birth through age 20 who rely on Missouri Medicaid or who are uninsured and meet financial guidelines. Its work emphasizes prevention, early intervention, and education. In 2025, the organization opened a new, state-of-the-art clinic in Belton, Mo., allowing it to expand access to dental care for more children and families in our community.
Leticia has been taking her 14-year-old son Brian to Cass County Dental Clinic since he was a toddler. She has no dental insurance and knows without this clinic in her home community of Belton–they’d likely have to sacrifice dental care due to the cost.
“I really appreciate that this is here. It’s really great that they provide all these services for people like us that don’t have insurance to cover treatment,” Leticia said.
The most frequent dental health issue the clinic is seeing among youth is decay, with more than half of new patients entering with some level of decay, and nearly 20% with active rampant caries, meaning cavities on seven or more teeth.
To further expand access, the organization brings dental care to schools through free screenings in Cass County and the Grandview school districts, which allows it to identify dental needs for students early and connect families to ongoing care. Powered by a team of more than 100 volunteers, nearly 6,000 students received screenings during the 2024-25 school year.
Serving rural and underserved communities has been central to Cass Community Health Foundation’s mission, especially since it opened the first safety net dental clinic in Cass County in 2011. At the heart of the organization’s approach is its belief that a child’s ZIP code should not determine their ability to receive quality dental care.net dental clinic in Cass County.
“We saw a need for dental care for children and teens in Cass County who previously had no access to Medicaid-accepting providers,” Randazzo said. “Cass County Dental Clinic quickly became the primary source for Medicaid dental care for underserved children in our area. 15 years later, the need still exists.”
This year, Cass County Dental Clinic is expanding its services to include adult family members of current pediatric patients, recognizing that children’s health is closely connected to the health of their families.
“By supporting healthier parents and caregivers, we help reinforce positive oral health behaviors at home, leading to healthier households and stronger long-term outcomes for children across Cass County,” explained Randazzo.
United Way is proud to partner with organizations like Cass Community Health Foundation who are changing outcomes for youth and families in our communities.
No dental experience is required to volunteer. Learn more about the organization and its available volunteer opportunities here.