LIBERTY Launches “Community Smiles” Program in Los Angeles County to Help Members Navigate Social Needs

IRVINE, Calif. , August 03 /Businesswire/ - LIBERTY Dental Plan (“LIBERTY”) announces the expansion of the “Community Smiles” Program to the Los Angeles area to help our members address barriers to health and connect to free or reduced-cost community resources.

In July, LIBERTY implemented the Community Smiles Program in Sacramento County to help members overcome barriers to health (also known as the Social Determinants of Health). LIBERTY developed this program with the understanding that these barriers – such as a lack of transportation and childcare – often prevent members from accessing their dental benefits and adhering to treatment plans, contribute to poor oral health, untreated dental disease, and missed days of work and school.

“LIBERTY developed this initiative to support our members and promote ‘whole person’ health. We think it’s even more critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, where we see the number of Medicaid members rising and our members struggling to meet their basic needs,” said Amir Neshat, LIBERTY founder and CEO. “We believe we are in a unique position to help.”

LIBERTY staff will help members who express that they have social needs search for and connect with community programs in their area. Members can access the program by:

• Texting LDPSMILES to 22925;
• Calling the LIBERTY Call Center at 888/273-2997;
• Connecting with our Health Education and Resources Team (Outreach staff); and,
• Inquiring with their assigned Case Manager (for members participating in our Case Management Program).

LIBERTY also offers members the ability to self-search for programs on our website using a platform called Aunt Bertha: https://communityresources.libertydentalplan.com.

Aunt Bertha was started in 2010 to offer an easier way for people in need to find social services directly and electronically. Aunt Bertha has since built the largest network of free and reduced-cost social assistance in every ZIP Code across the United States — this includes federal, state, county, municipal, and local programs in the biggest cities and smallest towns.

“Everyone will seek help at some point in their life, whether for themselves or on behalf of someone else,” says Erine Gray, Founder and CEO of Aunt Bertha. “Which is why I’m thrilled to be working with LIBERTY Dental Plan on the ‘Community Smiles’ program. This marks the first time we’ve partnered with a dental benefits corporation and it gives us the opportunity to connect their thousands of members with local services that address their unique needs.”

“Community Smiles” is now available in Sacramento and Los Angeles Counties, California, and Washoe and Clark Counties, Nevada.

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