Ruth Harbor is a Christ-centered home for young women who are alone and facing unplanned pregnancies. “Ruth” means compassion; “Harbor” means a place of refuge, safety, retreat, shelter.

Ruth Harbor is a resident home located in Des Moines and Carlisle. It provides young women who are alone and facing unplanned pregnancies a truly viable option — a safe harbor — by providing housing, education, counseling, health care, parenting training or adoption assistance, spiritual support and more for the duration of their pregnancies.

Our Safe and Healthy Housing program is available for low-income families that live in the greater Des Moines Metro area and need repairs to their home to maintain safety for the resident(s).

Salvation Army provides financial assistance for rent, utilities, furniture, clothing, and bus passes. Funding is limited.

Appointments for the week are made only by telephone starting at 8:30 am on Mondays. You must contact staff directly, do not leave a message on voice mail.  Salvation Armyy Family Services offers a variety of financial assistance options. Please contact to schedule an appointment.

The Scott County Health Department promotes, protects, and preserves health through leadership, service, education and partnerships.

Healthy Child Care Iowa supports registered nurse child care health consultants (CCHC) throughout Iowa. The child care nurse consultants provide on-site consultations, technical assistance, and training to child care providers.

There is a toll-free talk line available to child care providers and families for health related questions and to be connected to a child care nurse consultant. The Healthy Families hotline number is 1-800-369-2229.

HOPES-HFI is a home visiting program and serves families with young children. The program goals are to promote child health and development, improve family relationships, and encourage positive parenting and family relationships.

Providing a trusted partner to single parents and their families by offering programs and services to help single parent families strengthen and thrive.

Programming and activities provided for children and youth aged 0-18, so while moms enjoy this uplifting evening, their children will enjoy a fun evening complete with activities, games, and a meal of their own.

Community Health Partners is the local public health agency for Sioux County, Iowa.  Community Health Partners works to ensure that all people living in Sioux County have the opportunity to make choices that will help them live longer, healthier lives, regardless of their income, education or ethnic background.

Creating a “healthy community for all” is the vision of the Siouxland District Health Department. This will be accomplished through our mission of “leading a collaborative effort to build a healthier community through improved access to health services, education and disease prevention”.

Home visiting Program with Group based educational classes. An incentive program that earns points for essential items.

Positive Family Group

Necessary items like diapers, wipes, and detergent are available as well as beds, and a limited supply of like new clothing and baby quilts.

HOPES-HFI is a home visiting program and serves families with young children. The program goals are to promote child health and development, improve family relationships, and encourage positive parenting and family relationships.

Carroll County Nest

The Carroll County Nest is an incentive program that provides encouragement for parents to meet outcomes such as early and regular prenatal care, participation in programs to increase healthy behaviors, attendance at class on various topics related to pregnancy, infant care, and appropriate use of community services.

Families receive points for attending prenatal doctor visits, participating in educational activities, and living a healthy lifestyle.  Points are exchanged for items such as diapers, wipes, safety items, clothing, or toys. Participates are required to complete an educational activity once a month such as attending a class or reading material related to pregnancy until baby turns 1 year old.

St. Theresa Catholic Church operates a supplemental/emergency food pantry out of their church office. They offer a variety of fresh, frozen, canned, and packaged food, along with personal care products. Eligible households can access the pantry once per month. St. Theresa Food Pantry is a Food Bank of Iowa member agency.

Since being established in Des Moines in 1924, the main focus of St. Vincent de Paul’s (SVdP) work is to assist those living in poverty in becoming self-sufficient by helping to remove roadblocks as we walk with them on their journey out of poverty. The Des Moines Council operates two thrift stores, two social services departments, an education center, and a child watch center.

Educates, equips, and empowers young people living in disadvantaged and oppressive circumstances by using arts, entertainment, music, and a variety of other methods. This program is designed to serve youth in a supportive, empowering environment.

The Office of Ombudsman serves as an independent and impartial agency to which citizens can air their grievances about government. By facilitating communications between citizens and government and making recommendations to improve administrative practices and procedures, the Ombudsman promotes responsiveness and quality in government. The Ombudsman has authority to investigate complaints about Iowa state and local government, with certain exceptions. The Ombudsman attempts to resolve most problems informally. Following an investigation, the Ombudsman may make findings and recommendations and publish a report.

Helps empower adolescents and young adults that have been affected by cancer. Provides equal access to quality, holistic care no matter age, diagnosis, race/ethnicity, sexuality, or gender.

This program is based out of New York but offers virtual meet ups for support.