Care for Kids

smiling children in hall at school

What is the EPSDT Care for Kids program?

Care for Kids is the Early, Periodic, Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) Program for children and teenagers who are signed up with Medicaid in Iowa.  The focus of the Program is to make sure children and teenagers, age birth through 20 years, get health care services to keep them healthy.

Care for Kids Brochure

Who is Care for Kids for? [+]

Care for Kids is free for families with children and teenagers, from birth through 20 years of age, who are signed up with Iowa Medicaid.  Care for Kids services are provided through Iowa Medicaid, but any family in need of information or help with finding resources may contact us.

How does Care for Kids work? [+]

Each month, staff at the Scott County Health Department reaches out to families who are new to Iowa Medicaid to let them know about the Care for Kids Program.  Newly eligible families will receive information by mail and telephone to explain the services available and to answer questions.  
Care for Kids helps children, teenagers and families use preventive health care by offering these services:
  • Help finding a doctor, dentist, vision care provider, mental health provider, and other health care specialists 
    • To ask for a list of the medical, dental or vision providers in Scott County who take new patients with Iowa Medicaid, fill out this contact form..  Please let us know what type of information you need and a list of providers will be e-mailed or mailed to you.
  • Providing information about the benefits of medical, dental, and vision homes 
  • Help making health care appointments
  • Support to keep current with health care by: 
  • Providing information about healthcare and other community resources, including how to reach them
  • Getting immediate Medicaid insurance coverage for those that qualify while they wait for the Department of Human Services to review their information:  Health Insurance Resources
  • Linking families to other support services, such as language interpretation services and child care
  • Working with families to make sure immunizations (shots) are up-to-date 
  • Setting up a developmental and social emotional screen to see how your child is learning and growing.  Learn more about developmental and social emotional screen

Why are these services important? [+]

Children and teenagers should receive regular medical, dental, and vision exams, even when they are not sick.  Regular check-ups are important to find and treat health problems before they become more serious.  Care for Kids help families find and use these important services for their children.  Having regular care helps parents build trust and talk more openly with health care providers, and makes sure that families are linked to needed health care resources.

How do families get in touch with Care for Kids?

To contact the Care for Kids program in Scott County, please call 563-328-4114, or fill out the contact form and staff will respond to your request within two business days.  Staff is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Wednesdays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Help is not a four letter word. Visit yourlifeiowa.org

Your Life Iowa

If you or a loved one are facing a problem with alcohol, drugs, gambling, mental health or suicidal thoughts, Your Life Iowa can help.  Call 1-855-581-8111 or visit their website at yourlifeiowa.org.