EveryStep Care and Support Services

Parent Organization: EveryStep

Location Information

1111 9th Street, Des Moines, IA, USA

Phone 5152881516 | Fax 5152880437


Iowa’s 1st Five – Healthy Mental Development Initiative builds partnerships between medical providers and public service providers to enhance high quality well-child care. Medical providers make a referral to 1st Five and a developmental support specialist contacts the family to discuss the family’s concerns. 1st Five developmental support specialists provide resources and referrals to help meet the needs of the family.

Services:

  • Child development referrals, such as speech or physical therapy
  • Developmental screens
  • Mental health or behavioral therapy referrals
  • Child development information/education
  • Community resource referrals/information
  • Financial resources
  • Connection to resources to meet individualized family needs or concerns

Intake Process:

Referrals are made through primary care providers to public health agencies. To make a self-referral, contact your child’s primary care provider and request a 1st Five referral.

Payment:

No Cost to Participant

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No

Website: View Website


Program: Children at Home

The Children at Home program is designed to assist you and your family in securing the services and supports that you identify as necessary in helping your child remain at home. An underlying principle of the Children at Home program is that you and your family retain control of decisions which affect your child and family. Financial assistance is intended to enable you to obtain those services and supports which are not met by other programs.

This program is designed to assist families raising a child with a disability in obtaining needed services and supports. The Family's intent must be to secure services and support that enable their child to remain in the family home.

Services:

Services and support’ help children with disabilities to remain at home, function more independently, and increase community inclusion. Services and support may include, but are not limited to, funding for:

  • Purchase of equipment, respite care, supplies, therapy, parent/caregiver education, personal care, inclusion activities, or assistive technology.
  • Payment of other costs that relate to the individual’s disability.

Eligibility:

Eligibility for the Children at Home program is limited to families who meet all the following conditions:

  • The family resides in the state of Iowa.
  • The family includes an individual with a disability.
  • The family expresses an intent for the individual with a disability to remain living in the family’s home.
  • The family’s net taxable income in the most recently completed tax year is less than $60,000.

Intake Process:

Complete the ‘Request for Children at Home Funds’ Form and application found on the website and send to:
Iowa Family Support Network
1111 9th street, suite 320
Des Moines, IA 50314
Fax: 515-558-9994
Email: iafamilysupportnetwork@everystep.org

Hours:

Monday – Friday: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Payment:

No Cost to Participant

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No

Website: View Website


Iowa Department of Public Health used a health equity lens and collaborated with African American / Black – identified community members and local maternal health experts to develop a culturally appropriate, community-based doula program.

What is a doula?
A doula is a companion who supports a birthing person during prenatal period, labor, and postpartum. Doulas are trained to provide continuous, one-on-one care, as well as information, physical support, and emotional support to birthing persons and their partners.

What does a doula do?
Prenatal Period: Provides prenatal education, preparing families to make educated, well informed birthing and parenting choices.
Birthing: Provides physical and emotional support during labor and delivery, increasing their feelings of safety and comfort. They provide non-medical pain management techniques that decrease the need for unnecessary and expensive medical interventions. Doulas also facilitate positive communication between the birthing person and their health care providers.
Postpartum Period: Helps initiate breastfeeding and enhances a family’s confidence in caring for a newborn.Long-term doula care provides support and education for infant nutrition and health. They also serve as a source of information and referrals for a wide variety of needs.

Services:

  • Culturally appropriate, community-based doula program

Eligibility:

Pregnant individuals who identify as African American / Black.

Intake Process:

This is a pilot project, spots are limited, contact the site to determine if spots are available.

Payment:

No Cost to Participant

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No


The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit provides comprehensive and preventive health care services for children. The role of EPSDT is to promote the physical, mental, social, emotional, and behavioral health of children from birth to age 21. The EPSDT program emphasizes the use of a regular schedule of recommended well-child health visits, called screenings, to provide preventative health care and identify medical, developmental, and social-emotional concerns.

Services:

  • Audiology referrals
  • Dental screening referrals to dentists
  • Referrals to diagnostic and treatment services
  • Health services
  • Immunization reminders
  • Transportation information
  • Vision screening referrals

Eligibility:

Medicaid clients from birth to age 21.

Intake Process:

Parents or guardians should contact their local DHS office to enroll in Medicaid. This automatically enrolls the child in the EPSDT program. Families can contact their local EPSDT program for referrals to Medicaid covered services.

Payment:

No Cost to Participant

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No

Website: View Website


Provides interpretation and translation services. Services may be available in person or via phone.

Services:

  • Interpretation
  • Translation

Intake Process:

Contact the agency to discuss contracting for services. To learn more about becoming a client, please fill out the form on the website, or call. 515-557-9008.

Payment:

Self Pay

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No

Website: View Website


Services:

Eligibility:

Must be 60 years of age, make under $13,000/yr, and work at least 15 hours a week.

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No


Healthy Homes Iowa is an EveryStep program focused on working with families to identify and reduce triggers related to pediatric asthma. Their goal is to support improved asthma control and reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations related to pediatric asthma in Iowa. Through this program, households with children suffering from asthma receive home assessments to address asthma triggers and families receive health information and education to self-manage asthma and maintain a healthy home.

Common household substances including mold, dust, chemicals, and pests can trigger an attack. Children with developing lungs are particularly vulnerable to experiencing asthma symptoms. Healthy Homes Iowa will remediate household asthma triggers and repair the source of the problem in the home, such as leaky plumbing and old carpet.

Services:

  • Asthma trigger home assessments
  • Home repairs– to reduce asthma triggers
  • Asthma education
  • Care coordination

Eligibility:

  • Households with children (ages 2-18 years) diagnosed with asthma or reactive airway disease
  • Live in Polk County
  • Household income less than or equal to 80% median area income

Intake Process:

To apply for The Healthy Homes Iowa Program, email healthyhomes@everystep.org or call (515) 333-4549.
Applicants can apply at www.everystep.org/provider-resources/healthy-homes.
To be eligible, diagnosis confirmation needed.

Hours:

Office hours: Monday – Friday 7:45 am – 4:30 pm.

Payment:

No Cost to Participant

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No

Website: View Website


The EveryStep Healthy Start and Empowerment Family Support Projects offer free and confidential services to families in Polk County who are pregnant or have a young child. Case managers provide home visits to women for extra support to ensure a healthy child, family, and personal health.

Services:

  • Individualized prenatal and postpartum health education
  • Child developmental screening and education
  • Depression screening and referral
  • Access to community resources
  • Nutrition counseling
  • Family planning counseling
  • Infant care and safety education
  • Breastfeeding support and education
  • Help choosing medical coverage and a doctor

Eligibility:

Healthy Start serves families with children birth through age 2.
Empowerment serves families with children through age 5.

Intake Process:

Call 515- 558-9946 for more information and to enroll.

Payment:

No Cost to Participant

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No

Website: View Website


Program: Home Care

EveryStep offers a variety of in-home care and support services to help individuals recover from illness or injury, and to help seniors lead healthy, active lives.

Services:

EveryStep has registered nurses, home health aides, homemakers, respite, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and medical social works who can assist with the following

  • Post hospital care
  • Infusion Therapy
  • Wound Care/ Wound Vac Therapy
  • Pediatric Nursing
  • Safety Evaluations
  • Medication Set-up
  • Medication teaching for compliance
  • Monthly urinary catheter change
  • Medication injection services

Eligibility:

Must meet the Centers of Medicaid Services guidelines for admission. Homecare can bill Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicaid, VA, and most private insurance.

Intake Process:

Contact Intake at 515-558-9591 or email homecare@everystep.org.

Payment:

Private Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No

Website: View Website


Program: I-Smile

I-Smile™ Dental Home Initiative is a statewide program that connects Iowans with dental, medical, and community resources to ensure a lifetime of health and wellness.An I-Smile Coordinator provides care coordination and support to families with children who need dental care. The I-Smile Coordinator can help with: Setting up dental appointments, providing reminders of when the dental appointment is, arranging for transportation to the dental appointment, and providing education on oral health care.

Services:

  • Oral screenings
  • Fluoride varnish applications
  • Sealant applications
  • Prophylaxes
  • Radiographs
  • Educate parents about the benefits of regular preventive dental care
  • Provide families with the names and locations of dental providers
  • Assist families with scheduling dental appointments
  • Arrange dental support services, such as transportation and translation

Eligibility:

Children and pregnant women.

Intake Process:

Contact your local I-Smile coordinator.

Payment:

No Cost to Participant, Medicaid Waiver, Financial Assistance Available, Medicaid

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No


The Iowa Family Support Network (IFSN) assists families and providers in connecting with Early ACCESS and community-based services that address specialized child and family needs. The program serves as the central point of contact and directory for families. Information specialists are available via telephone and e-mail to answer questions about various programs or to help locate resources. Information on growth and development for children aged two weeks to three years can be accessed from the IFSN website.

Services:

Iowa Family Support Network can connect you with:

  • Family and Group based services
  • Early ACCESS services
  • Community resources
  • EHDI hearing screenings
  • Children at Home program

Eligibility:

Children ages birth through five.

Intake Process:

Contact the Iowa Family Support Network at 1-888-425-4371. Applications or other requested documents can be faxed to 515-558-9994.

Hours:

Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

Payment:

No Cost to Participant

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No

Website: View Website


The EveryStep Maternal Child Health Outreach Program assists uninsured children and pregnant women in obtaining health insurance and finding a doctor and dentist. Outreach support specialists can answer questions about hawk-i and Medicaid and provide same day enrollment and eligibility determination. Specialists can also help by assisting with completion of applications and renewals.

Services:

  • Connecting children to hawk-i or Medicaid
  • Connecting pregnant women to Presumptive Eligibility and Medicaid
  • Connecting kids who are under 21 years old to the EveryStep Dental Voucher Program

Eligibility:

Must be a resident of Iowa and meet income guidelines for Medicaid or hawk-i.

Intake Process:

Call 515.558.6241 to schedule an appointment.

Hours:

Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Payment:

No Cost to Participant

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No

Website: View Website


Maternal Health services provide home visitation, personalized education, prenatal and postpartum care to pregnant and parenting women.

Services:

  • Medical assessment
  • Dental assessment
  • Health and nutrition education
  • Mental health screening and referral
  • Care coordination
  • Assistance with plans for delivery
  • Postpartum home visiting

Eligibility:

Maternal health services are available to pregnant women who are residents of Iowa. Income guidelines of 300% Federal Poverty Level.

Intake Process:

Call to enroll.

Payment:

No Cost to Participant

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No


Program: Nine2Thrive

EveryStep’s Nine2Thrive program helps support the healthy development of babies during pregnancy by identifying risks and providing a support system. The Nine2Thrive project model is a public – private partnership bridging primary care and public health services.

Through screenings, prenatal healthcare providers refer pregnant individuals to Nine2Thrive for free, confidential connection to support. Support Specialists from Nine2Thrive link pregnant individuals to community and healthcare resources. The Nine2Thrive Support Specialists follow up with the referring healthcare provider.

Services:

  • Mental health referrals
  • Prenatal development information/education
  • Community resource referrals/information
  • Financial resources
  • Connection to resources to meet individualized family needs or concerns

Eligibility:

Nine2Thrive currently serves pregnant individuals who receive prenatal services in Polk County, or at South Central Iowa Medical Clinic in Corydon, Iowa.

Intake Process:

Referrals can be made to the Nine2Thrive Hotline 515-333-4533, by email, or using the “request services” button on the website.

Hours:

Monday – Friday 7:45 am – 4:30 pm

Payment:

No Cost to Participant

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No


Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), a maternal and early childhood health program, fosters long-term success for first-time moms, their babies and society. NFP's program introduces vulnerable first-time parents to caring maternal and child health nurses. This program allows nurses to deliver the support first-time moms need to have a healthy pregnancy, become knowledgeable and responsible parents, and provide their babies with the best possible start in life. The relationship between mother and nurse provides the foundation for strong families.

Services:

  • Home visits from pregnancy up through the child's second birthday
  • Help parents develop plans for the future, including pregnancies, education, and work
  • Teach parents to provide responsible and competent care for child
  • Provide education on prenatal care, healthy eating, exercising, and quitting smoking
  • Preparation for delivery

Eligibility:

  • First-time mother
  • Meets income requirements
  • Enroll during 1st trimester of pregnancy
  • Lives in Polk county

Intake Process:

Call for intake information.

Payment:

No Cost to Participant

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No

Website: View Website


Program: Play and Learn

Play and Learn offers child-directed, open ended, playful learning activities designed for the parent to stay and play with their child ages 0 ‘ 8 years old (school ages welcome). When in-person Play and Learn meetings are in session, every family receives a book and a healthy snack.

Services:

  • Child-directed play
  • Parent education and support

Eligibility:

And parent and child ages 0 – 8 years old in the Des Moines area

Intake Process:

Call 515-305-0408 for more information

Hours:

Play and Learn updates and session information can be found on the Play and Learn Central Iowa Facebook group at: www.facebook.com/groups/PlayAndLearnCentralIowa/.

For more information call 515-305-0408.

Payment:

No Cost to Participant

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No


Public Health nurses provides skilled nursing care, information on healthy lifestyle practices, and encourages changes for better health. This service is available to every citizen (of all ages) and is provided locally in every county. Skilled nursing services are provided by professional staff or associated paraprofessionals. The service available varies by county. Public Health Nurses also provide information and assistance to link families with local community resources for health and social needs.

Services:

Public Health nursing services vary by county and may include, but are not limited to:

  • Pediatric home care
  • Immunizations (direct or referral)
  • Physical, occupational, and speech therapies
  • Health teaching
  • Nutrition counseling and teaching
  • Initial newborn visit
  • Family support home visiting
  • Postpartum visits
  • STI testing & treatment

Intake Process:

Contact the local office to learn more and schedule an appointment.

Hours:

Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Payment:

Self Pay, Sliding Scale, No Cost to Participant

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No

Website: View Website


EveryStep's Senior Companion program provides support to adults through regular home visits. Trained Senior Companions help their clients maintain happy, healthy lives. Senior Companions receive a stipend and other benefits. The program is offered at no charge to residents of Polk, Warren, Marion, Lucas, and Pottawattamie counties who are 21 or older and need extra support to continue to live independently in their homes.

Services:

Senior Companions work one-on-one providing:

  • Companionship
  • Respite
  • Transportation
  • Assistance with daily living tasks such as light meal preparation, bill paying, and grocery shopping.

Eligibility:

Senior Companions must be 55 years of age or older, be a resident of Polk, Warren, Marion, Lucas, or Pottawattamie Counties, and have income below 200% of the federal poverty level depending on household size.

Clients must be 21 years of age or older, be a resident of Polk, Warren, Marion, Lucas, or Pottawattamie Counties, and need extra support to continue to live independently.

Intake Process:

Call 515-558-9957 or email seniorcomp@everystep.org

Hours:

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday 7:45 am – 4:30 pm

Payment:

No Cost to Participant

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No

Website: View Website


Stork's Nest and Family Nest are part of an educational incentive program. Participants earn points for healthy behaviors such as keeping medical appointments, WIC participation, breastfeeding, and school attendance. These points may be redeemed at the Stork's Nest for needed baby items such as diapers, clothing, strollers, cribs, and car seats. Family Nest participants may also redeem points for needed household supplies such as laundry detergent, pots and pans, and dishwashing detergent.

Services:

  • Educational classes on various topics related to pregnancy, infant care and parenting encouragement.
  • Support and encouragement to increase healthy behaviors among pregnant individuals and new mothers
  • Baby clothing, nursery supplies, and equipment.
  • Referrals to community services and activities.

Eligibility:

Stork's Nest: Pregnant individuals in Polk County who meet the program's income guidelines (150% federal poverty level); once enrolled, women may remain in the program through pregnancy and postpartum until the baby is one year old.

Family Nest: Families enrolled in the Healthy Start & Empowerment program (families with a pregnant individual or child under the age of six) who meet the program's income guidelines (185% federal poverty level).

Intake Process:

Call Stork's Nest directly at 515.558.9950 to see if you qualify and to make an appointment with the coordinator.

Hours:

Store Hours:
Wednesday 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 12:00 noon

Payment:

No Cost to Participant

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No

Website: View Website


Offers individual, couples and family counseling. A wide range of counseling services are available to address challenges such as managing stress, relationship issues, communication, parenting and any other situations causing distress.

Services:

  • Individual Therapy
  • Couples Therapy
  • Family Peer Support
  • Adult Peer Support
  • Behavioral Health Intervention Services ( BHIS)
  • Play Therapy

Intake Process:

Email info@sftherapy.org or call 515.558.6251 for more information.

Hours:

Monday – 8am to 8pm
Tuesday through Friday 8am to 5pm
Evening appointments available by request.

Payment:

Self Pay, Private Insurance, Medicaid

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No

Website: View Website


The Storybook project recruits, screens and trains volunteers tow ork with incarcerated parents or grandparents at the Iowa Correctional Institute for Women and the Newton Correctional Release Center. Once per month the parent/grandparent choose a book from the Storybook library that is appropriate for the child. The parent or grandparent reads the book while the volunteer records the reading onto a digital voice recorder. The book and CD are then mailed to the child.

Services:

Eligibility:

Mo

Hours:

Second Tuesday of the month

Payment:

No Cost to Participant

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: No

Website: View Website