| The Family Help Guide is designed to help you locate community resources and support services across Iowa. The amount of information and resources available in our community can be overwhelming to access, we can help you navigate the search. This directory includes resources and information about the people and programs available in your area to support and empower you. If you would like a resource added or revised, you may use the contact button at the top of this page or email the information to iafamilysupportnetwork@everystep.org |
Note: Distances are approximate.
2304 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50311, USA
Phone 877-859-0542 | Fax 515-362-8033
- Family Planning Services
Hours:
Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Second Saturday of the month 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Some services are available on a walk-in basis. Call for more information.
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Website: Visit Website
Community refrigerators are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Community refrigerators are open to anyone to take what they need to feed themselves and their family. Members of the local community stock the refrigerators and shelves with perishable and nonperishable items. The availability of items at the refrigerators change daily and throughout the day.
The Sweet Tooth Farm Community Refrigerator is located at parking lot of HOME Inc.
- Perishable food items
- Non-perishable food items
Eligibility:
There are no restrictions on who can access the food or how often food can be accessed.
Intake Process:
There is no intake process. People can take what they need from the refrigerator without signing up or providing their information.
Hours:
The community refrigerator is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Website: Visit Website
129 West High Street, Toledo, IA, USA 50704
Phone 641-484-4788 | Fax 641-484-5447
his is an educational incentive program. Participates earn points for healthy behaviors and encouragement to receive early and regular prenatal medical care, The points are redeemed for needed baby items for child up to 2 years old.
Hours:
2nd Tuesday of the month 3:30pm to 4:30 PM
Payment:
No cost to participants
405 Jefferson Street, Bedford, IA 50833, USA
Phone 712-523-3405 | Fax 712-523-3402
Taylor County Public Health works to protect, promote, and enhance the health and well-being of the environment and residents of Taylor County through our health services, prevention programs and health education.
Environmental Health:
• Septic system inspection
• Well and geothermal services & inspections
• Well & cistern plugging
• Private water well testing
• Radon test kits
• Tanning and tattoo parlor inspections
• Rental inspections
• Animal bite follow up
Home Health:
• Skilled nursing
• Health Aide/personal care
• Homemaker/light housekeeping
• Speech, physical and occupational therapy
Public Health:
• Breast & cervical cancer screening
• Women’s heart health program
• Bioterrorism preparedness
• Flu clinics
• Blood pressure clinics
• New baby home visits
• Communicable disease follow up
• Immunization clinic
• Car seat safety check up and education
• I-Smile/oral health for children
• Child Care Nurse Consultation
• Lead poisoning prevention education and screening
• Hawk-i outreach and enrollment (insurance for children)
• Care coordination to help families find local helping programs
• Prenatal education throughout pregnancy
Website: Visit Website
Telecommunication Access Iowa helps Iowans who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or have speech difficulties get specialized telecommunications equipment at little or no cost.
- Voucher for Specialized Telecommunications Equipment
Eligibility:
You must meet all to qualify for a Voucher:
- Be an Iowa resident
- Be at least 5 years of age or able to use the telecommunications equipment
- Have phone service now or plan on getting it (not needed for the wireless requirements)
- Confirm that the equipment you are asking for would make telecommunications use easier for you
- Confirm your income is less than what is listed in the chart below
| No. of Persons in Family | Gross Annual Family Income |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $66,000 |
| 2 persons | $76,000 |
| 3 persons | $86,000 |
| 4 persons | $96,000 |
| 4+ persons | Add $10,000 for each additional person |
Intake Process:
- Step 1: Complete Application Form listed on website, or call (800) 606-5099 to receive an application in the mail
- Step 2: Choose Your Equipment
- Step 3: Acquire Professional Certification to sign the application form verifying that you have a need for specialized telecommunication equipment.
- Step 4: Submit Application to TAI.
- Mail: 6925 Hickman Road Des Moines, IA 50322
- Email: info@teleiowa.com
- Online: Home Page – IUB EVS
Hours:
Showroom Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday
Mailing Address:
6925 Hickman Road
Des Moines , IA 50322
Website: Visit Website
The Ankeny Klothing Exchange (TAKE) is a non-profit organization that operates a store offering free gently used clothing, shoes, linens, household goods, and more to people in need.
- Free Clothing Closet & Household Items
Eligibility:
No proof of income or other information is requested. TAKE will ask for your city of residence & the number of people for whom you are shopping, in order to keep annual statistics on use.
Intake Process:
Coming to shop? Here’s what you need to know:
- Once you sign in, we’ll give you plastic shopping bags which you may fill with clothing or items you need.
- Outside shopping bags/purses are not allowed.
- Children must be supervised at all times.
- The Ankeny Klothing Exchange, Inc. (TAKE) reserves the right to refuse service to any customer who threatens or verbally abuses volunteers or other customers, or who is causing a scene by yelling, swearing, making a mess, or who is clearly intoxicated.
Hours:
Monday – Friday + 2nd Saturday. 9:30am – 11:30 am.
Mailing Address:
105 E 1st Street
Ankeny, IA 50021
Website: Visit Website
The Bridge Home is a non-profit organization devoted to bridging the gap between homelessness and housing by providing shelter, support, and inspiring a pathway forward for individuals and families experiencing or on the verge of homelessness.
- Emergency Shelter
- Street Outreach
- Supportive Housing
- Short-term rental assistance
Eligibility:
Serves Boone, Greene, Hardin, Marshall, and Story counties.
Intake Process:
Call (515) 232-8075 or complete the following “Get Help” form: Contact The Bridge Home – Help for Homeless in Iowa
Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm.
Mailing Address:
225 S Kellogg Ave
Ames, IA 50010
Website: Visit Website
The Connection Cafe is a free lunch program for homeless and low-income people in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. We serve lunch at noon every Monday-Friday to our honored guests. Hosted by The Bridge.
- Community Meals – Free Lunch
Eligibility:
Serves low-income and homeless communities.
Hours:
Monday-Friday from 12pm – 1pm.
Mailing Address:
600 6th Ave
Des Moines, IA 50309
Website: Visit Website
Provides free food, clothing, personal care products, and household/baby items to support those in need in Warren County.
- Food Pantry
- Clothing pantry
- Community Food Pantries are available throughout Warren County in different locations.
Eligibility:
Resident of Warren County
Intake Process:
Bring an ID or a sheet of paper with a current address. If no ID is given, a limited amount of food is still available.
Hours:
Tuesday: 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Wednesday: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Thursday: 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday: 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Website: Visit Website
The Pet Project is an all-volunteer-run, non-profit organization dedicated to keeping pets with the people who love them through proactive programming. We provide pet food and supplies to Des Moines area residents who are struggling to meet the needs of their pets. We also support a state-wide network helping to reunite lost and found pets in Iowa.
- Financial Assistance for Pet Food and Pet Supplies.
- Lost and Found Pet State-Wide Network.
Eligibility:
Pet Owner Rules
- You must live in the Greater Des Moines Metro area.
- You must have owned the pet(s) you listed on the original application for at least six (6) months.
- Your household must follow the Des Moines limits for number of pets, which is currently a maximum of six (6) pets.
- If staff finds evidence of abuse or deception such as lying about pets or selling or trading food, you will be immediately and permanently removed from the program.
Pet Requirements
- Pet age must be eight (8) months or older.
- Pet must be spayed/neutered by the second month of participation in the Pet Pantry program. You must provide proof of this from your veterinarian.
Intake Process:
For immediate support, please fill out an application in person at the office – 4944 Franklin Ave., Suite N. Des Moines, IA 50310.
Online applications are accepted as well but may experience a delay due to processing – Pet Pantry Application – The Pet Project Midwest.
Hours:
Open Saturday from 9am – 2pm. May be closed on holiday weekends.
Mailing Address:
4944 Franklin Ave Suite N
Des Moines, IA 50310
Website: Visit Website
The Well Covenant Church operates a food pantry.
- Food Pantry
- Clothing Closet
Eligibility:
Open to anyone.
Intake Process:
Provide a photo ID for the head of household and other identification for every member of the family. Some pantries may request a current piece of mail which includes your name and primary address.
Hours:
2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month 10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Website: Visit Website
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.
- Technical assistance through phone, e-mail or on-site visits for health and safety issues.
- Consult and train on health and safety standards and best practices.
- Help with health and safety policies.
- Support health record keeping, from medication to immunization records.
- Help increase physical activity and healthy eating for children in the child care setting.
- Connect child care providers to community resources for children and families.
- Perform a health and safety assessment for providers involved in Iowa’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS).
- Care planning for children with special health needs.
Eligibility:
Services available to all Iowa child care providers and families. For those in Henry, Louisa, Muscatine, Washington counties.
Hours:
8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Payment:
No cost to participant.
Website: Visit Website
- Family Planning Services
Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Appointment Needed: Yes
Helping Hands Warren County provides a community refrigerator at Truro Public Library. Community refrigerators are open to anyone to take what they need to feed themselves and their family. Members of the local community stock the refrigerators and shelves with perishable and nonperishable items. The availability of items at the refrigerators change daily and throughout the day.
- Perishable food items
- Non-perishable food items
Eligibility:
There are no restrictions on who can access the food or how often food can be accessed.
Intake Process:
There is no intake process. People can take what they need from the refrigerator without signing up or providing their information.
Hours:
Can be accessed during library hours.
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Website: Visit Website
715 West Milwaukee Avenue, Storm Lake, IA 50588, USA
Phone 712-213-0109 | Fax 712-213-0186
- Family Planning Services
Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am – 12:00 noon
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Appointment Needed: Yes
USCIS is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States. USCIS is responsible for processing immigration and naturalization applications and establishing policies regarding immigration services.
- Interviews for all non-asylum cases (for example, getting a Green Card).
- Naturalization ceremonies.
- Appointments for information and applicant services.
Intake Process:
Call (800) 375-5283 or schedule an appointment online here: myUSCIS – Schedule an Appointment.
Mailing Address:
210 Walnut Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
Appointment Needed: Yes
Website: Visit Website
United Way brings together people from every part of the community to identify gaps and best leverage points to create sustainable impact.
- 211 Iowa – Referral Service
- 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices
- ACEs 360
- Bridges to Success
- Building New Careers
- Central Iowa Works
- Giving Gardens
- HOPE for Stable Families
- Powered by Purpose
- OpportUNITY
- READ to Succeed
- Skills 2 Compete
- Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)
- Vision to Learn
Hours:
Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm
Mailing Address:
1111 9th Street Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50314
Website: Visit Website
211
Just like calling 9-1-1 in an emergency, 2-1-1 is a three-digit helpline that connects anyone with local support and resources. Professionals are trained to quickly assess a caller’s needs and identify the best solution. 2-1-1 is free, confidential, and available any time.
Eligibility:
Open to anyone
Hours:
24 hours a day
Payment:
No cost to participants
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Website: Visit Website
Eyerly Ball offers a full continuum of mental health services and treatment to meet the needs of our community, from family and individual counseling to outpatient care for all ages. Committed to providing solutions that address all areas of health including mental and emotional health.
- Individual, couple, and group counseling/therapy.
- Psychiatric assessments.
- Medication management.
- Substance abuse treatment.
- Mental health crisis line.
- Children and Adolescent services.
- Integrated Health Home (IHH).
Eligibility:
Varies based on services/program.
Intake Process:
Contact Eyerly Ball staff online: Eyerly Ball Navigator Form or via phone at 515-241-0982.
Hours:
Monday – Friday. 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
Mailing Address:
945 19th Street
Des Moines, IA 50314
Website: Visit Website
The health of a community depends upon its ability to work toward common health goals and upon adequate distribution of health resources to all of its members. Since 1910, the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) has worked collaboratively with Dubuque’s private and public sectors, to reduce the spread of infectious disease, see that infants and children are properly immunized, educate people regarding healthy lifestyles, promote oral health, provide supportive services to elderly in their homes, offer parenting support, and so much more. Since 1997, the VNA has provided Public Health in Clayton County through the Elkader VNA office.
Over the years, the services offered by the Visiting Nurse Association have changed concurrently with the changing needs of the community and our service area has grown. The VNA of Dubuque currently has offices in Dubuque and Elkader, Iowa and collaborates with agencies in Allamakee, Delaware, and other northeast Iowa counties to serve their residents.
- Child Health Case Management and Care Coordination
- Immunization Clinics
- Oral Health Services
- Lead Poisoning Prevention
- EPSDT
- Hawki (Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa)
- Early Access
- WIC Program
- HCCI (Health Child Care Iowa)
- Care for Frail Elderly
- Immunizations
- Communicable Disease Follow-Up
- 1st Five Healthy Development Program
- Family Planning
- Maternal Health
Intake Process:
Intake process varies based on service, please contact VNS office to get started.
Hours:
Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm.
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Website: Visit Website
The behavioral health urgent care location in central Iowa provides services to individuals who are needing mental health services.
- Crisis services
- Community resources
- On-site coordination to Eyerly Ball Community Mental Health Services
Eligibility:
Both pediatric and adult patients can be seen at Urgent Care. Patients under 18 years of age must have a parent or guardian with them.
Intake Process:
Walk-in, reserve spot online, or call (515) 263-2632.
Hours:
Monday through Friday. 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Mailing Address:
1250 East 9th Street
Des Moines, IA 50316
Website: Visit Website
The health of a community depends upon its ability to work toward common health goals and upon adequate distribution of health resources to all of its members. Since 1910, the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) has worked collaboratively with Dubuque’s private and public sectors, to reduce the spread of infectious disease, see that infants and children are properly immunized, educate people regarding healthy lifestyles, promote oral health, provide supportive services to elderly in their homes, offer parenting support, and so much more. Since 1997, the VNA has provided Public Health in Clayton County through the Elkader VNA office.
Over the years, the services offered by the Visiting Nurse Association have changed concurrently with the changing needs of the community and our service area has grown. The VNA of Dubuque currently has offices in Dubuque and Elkader, Iowa and collaborates with agencies in Allamakee, Delaware, and other northeast Iowa counties to serve their residents.
- Immunization Clinics
- Oral Health Services
- Hawki (Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa)
- Preventive Protective Home Visits
- 1st Five Healthy Development Program
- Tobacco
- Home Care Aide and Homemaker Service
- Respite Services
- Communicable Disease Follow-Up
- HIV and Hepatitis C Testing
- Ryan White Case Management Program
- Breast and Cervical Cancer Program
- Child Health Case Management and Care Coordination
- Lead Poisoning Prevention
- Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) Program
- WIC Program
- Family Planning
- Maternal Health
Intake Process:
Intake process varies by each service, please contact VNS office to get started.
Hours:
Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm.
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Website: Visit Website
UnityPoint Health – John Stoddard Cancer Center, a service of UnityPoint Health – Des Moines, is among the top achieving cancer programs in the nation and has been recognized for its quality cancer care. Our high standard of care comes from decades of research, cancer treatment experience and cancer care technological superiority.
- Cancer treatment
- Oncology research and clinical trials
- Lymphedema Center
- Oncology Navigators
- Support groups
- Cancer education classes
- Survivorship program
- Genetic Counseling
- On-site EMPOWER Boutique and Salon
Hours:
Monday – Friday. 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Mailing Address:
1221 Pleasant Street
Des Moines , IA 50309
Appointment Needed: Yes
Website: Visit Website
This location hosts the UnityPoint Lactation Support Group. The support group is run by internationally board-certified lactation consultants. They can help with feeding positions and baby’s latch, answer pumping questions, and do weighted feeds so you know how much baby is eating.
- Lactation Support Group
Eligibility:
Breastfeeding families.
Intake Process:
Details online or contact 515-241-6570 for more information.
Hours:
Des Moines group meets Friday’s 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Mailing Address:
1405 Woodland Ave
Des Moines, IA 50309
Website: Visit Website
The UIHC (University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics) Regional Genetics Consultation Services provide comprehensive, family centered, genetic health care to individuals and families throughout Iowa with statewide outreach clinics. The primary purpose of the Regional Genetics Consultation Services is to provide this structure as an integral component of the state’s health-care system. The secondary purpose is to assure the provision of statewide genetics education to promote health and prevent disease.
- Diagnostic evaluations
- Confirmatory testing
- Medical Management
- Provision of non-directive counseling
- Education and Consultation
- Individual and family support
- Case Management
- Referral
Intake Process:
Contact Johnston clinic at 515-457-2960 or request an appointment online here: Request an Appointment for your Child | University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
Hours:
Monday through Friday. 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Mailing Address:
8605 Chambery Boulevard
Johnston , IA 50131
Appointment Needed: Yes
Website: Visit Website
