Resource Directory

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.

Displaying locations 101 - 125 of 355

Healthy Beginnings is a home visitation program for pregnant moms and/or postnatal parents and parenting families. The program uses a family-centered model which promotes healthy birth outcomes and family education. This program has received the Iowa Family Support Credential.

Eligibility:

  • Pregnant women
  • Parenting adults/teens
  • Families in Emmet County
  • Children 0-5 year of age
  • Breastfeeding women interested in a visit with a Certified Lactation Counselor

Intake Process:

Call office at 712-362-2460 to speak with a nurse to get enrolled in the Healthy Beginnings program.

Hours:

Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm

Payment:

No cost to participant

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Website: Visit Website


6th floor of the Insurance Exchange Building in downtown Des Moines

  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Counseling Services
  • Substance Abuse Services
  • Workplace Wellness
  • Psychological Testing
  • Prevention Services

Intake Process:

For counseling, call the intake specialist at 515-471-2357.

For Substance Abuse Services contact 515-243-4200.

Hours:

Monday – Thursday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Payment:

Costs of services vary. Contact EFR to determine which insurance providers are accepted. Sliding fee scale available for self-pay.

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: Yes

Website: Visit Website


  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Counseling Services
  • Substance Abuse Services
  • Workplace Wellness
  • Psychological Testing
  • Prevention Services

Intake Process:

For counseling, call the intake specialist at 515-471-2357.

For Substance Abuse Services contact 515-243-4200.

Hours:

Monday – Thursday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

Friday 9:00 am – 4:30 pm

Payment:

Costs of services vary. Contact EFR to determine which insurance providers are accepted. Sliding fee scale available for self-pay.

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: Yes

Website: Visit Website


Eternity church offers a mobile food pantry that travels to other locations in the Des Moines metro throughout the week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Tuesday’s mobile food pantry is located at the corner of 4th street and Euclid Avenue
Wednesday’s mobile food pantry is located at 2600 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway
Friday’s mobile food pantry is located at 314 East Army Post Road

  • Mobile Food Pantry

Eligibility:

Open to anyone.

Hours:

Mobile food pantry operates Tuesday, Wednesday, and Fridays from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm at the locations listed above.

Website: Visit Website


Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families helps families and individuals improve their financial position and connects them with their work and career goals.

The Center is a partnership between the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, United Way of Central Iowa and Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). The partnership is providing solutions to three crucial needs identified by local residents: workforce training, employment opportunities and grocery and retail services.​

  • Job Development
    • One-on-one career coaching
    • Career fairs
    • Mock interviews
    • Resume assistance
  • Men on the Move (clothing closet)
  • Polk County Financial Empowerment Center
  • Digital Skills Course
  • Parenting Classes

Hours:

Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Website: Visit Website


Innovative grief support services that promote hope and healing to individuals, children, and families. Ranging from dinner club gatherings for young adults, to opportunities to attend local events, Amanda the Panda engages participants in activities that promote socialization and help individuals, children, and families rebuild after the death of a loved one.

  • Support Groups
  • Cheer Boxes
  • Social Support Events
  • School Presentations and Events
  • In-School Support Groups
  • Community Support

Eligibility:

Children (Kindergarten and above), teens, and adults who have experienced the death of a loved one. Childcare is available for younger children upon request.

Intake Process:

If you have questions/want more information: please email griefandloss@everystep.org.

Interpreters Available:

Interpretation available

Hours:

Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Website: Visit Website


Stork’s nest is part of an educational incentive program. Participants can earn points for healthy behaviors suck as keeping medical appointments, WIC participation, breastfeeding, and school attendance. These points may be redeemed at the Storks Nest for needed baby items such as diapers, clothing, strollers, cribs, car seats.

Eligibility:

Stork’s Nest Participants must be pregnant individuals living in Polk County wo meet the program’s income guidelines (150% federal poverty level); once enrolled, women may remain in the program through pregnancy and postpartum until baby is one year old.

Hours:

Monday – Friday 8am to 2:30pm

Payment:

No cost to participants

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: Yes

Website: Visit Website


One of Iowa’s oldest and most trusted non-profit organizations has a new name. HCI Care Services & Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa is now called EveryStep.

Our people and programs provide support and education to young moms; assistance to immigrants and refugees; wellness services to communities; in-home care to people who are ill, injured or facing the end of life; and compassionate support to families during times of grief and loss.

  • 1st Five
  • Amanda the Panda
  • Child Care Nurse Consultant (CCNC)
  • Children at Home
  • Community Home Visitation
  • Contract Nursing
  • Doula Services
  • EPSDT Care for Kids
  • Fathers Matter
  • Hawki
  • Healthy Homes Iowa
  • Healthy Start & Empowerment/Healthy Families America (HFA)
  • I-Smile
  • Iowa Family Support Network (IFSN)
  • Maternal Child Health (MCH)
  • Nine2Thrive (N2T)
  • Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP)
  • Stork’s Nest
  • Title X Family Planning
  • Well-Being Connections
  • Home Care
  • Hospice

Intake Process:

Contact Care & Support intake phone number for further information.

Interpreters Available:

  • Phone interpretation available

Hours:

Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Appointment Needed: Yes

Website: Visit Website


Bidwell Pantry operates a Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) food panty. People seeking assistance can visit one of the DMARC food pantries to receive a three-day supply of food once per month.

Bidwell Pantry has additional daily food items available. Bidwell Pantry also provides clothing, and household items. All services are first come, first served.

  • DMARC Food Packages
    • Three-day supply of food available once per month
  • Daily food items
    • Bread & pastries
    • Extra Produce
    • Meals From the Heartland
    • Other food donations
  • Clothing
  • Toiletries/personal hygiene items (when available)
  • Diapers, wipes, formula, baby food (when available)
  • Household items (when available)

Eligibility:

Open to anyone. Bidwell is a no-boundary pantry.

Intake Process:

Provide identification (ID) for the head of household.  ID types are flexible, see the website for forms of ID. If possible, please bring identification for each member of the household. If you are unable to provide an ID, a limited amount of food is available.

Appointments are not necessary, please check in when you arrive.

 

Hours:

Food & Clothing Pantry Hours:

Monday – Friday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

*Must check in before 4:30 pm

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Website: Visit Website


  • Family Connections is a team of nurses, social workers, and early childhood educators who offer resources and programs for pregnant and parenting families in North Iowa. Family Connections provides comprehensive home visits for residents of Cerro Gordo, Hancock, and Worth counties as well as parent education classes available for individuals in all counties.
  • Parent education
  • Child development education and support

Intake Process:

  • Request an appointment online
  • Call 56-421-5500 or 563-242-7165

Website: Visit Website


Family Connections is a program designed to help families improve their overall health and well-being. Families work one-on-one with a family development specialist who helps the family understand the importance of regular health screenings and their role in their child’s physical and mental development. The family development specialist also empowers the family to discover their own goals and dreams for the future. Family Connections utilizes a comprehensive goal-setting system.

Home visiting, parenting education, create a healthier environment for kids

Eligibility:

Income guidelines, have a child under 5 or someone in the household is pregnant.

Hours:

Monday-Friday: 8:30am – 4:30pm

Saturday-Sunday: Closed

Website: Visit Website


  • Helps families with children under the age of 2 and pregnant women prepare for a new baby and provide the best care possible after the baby arrives. In home services are available to pregnant women and infants with medical needs.
  • Prenatal care
  • Child development
  • Child health
  • Parenting skills
  • Family functioning

Eligibility:

  • Families that reside in Calhoun county school systems

Hours:

  • Monday-Friday: 8:30am-4:30pm

Payment:

  • Most services are free
  • Sliding fee scale based on the client’s household income is used to determine fees

Website: Visit Website


  • Family Foundations is a program available to pregnant women and families with children up to the age of 5 years old. Offers services in Webster, Calhoun, and Pocahontas counties.
  • Nurses and family support workers help provide information on pregnancy, new baby, toddler, family life skills, and available resources
  • Home visiting services

Intake Process:

  • Email public_health@webstercountyia.org

Hours:

  • Monday-Friday: 8:00am-4:00pm
  • Saturday-Sunday: Closed

Payment:

  • Free services

Website: Visit Website


  • Provides families in Linn County with group education and assists with resources and connections for children. Provides parenting information and 6–8-week family learning groups.
  • Family group classes
  • Virtual or in=person sessions

Intake Process:

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 Pottawattamine, Mills, Cass, Harrison, Monona, and Shelby counties.

Intake Process:

For more information please contact Jennie ( Mills & Pottawattamie counties) at 712-828-0176 or Nora (Cass, Harrison, Monona, and Shelby counties) at 712-828-1386.

Hours:

Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm

Payment:

No cost to participant.

Website: Visit Website


Firefly is a vital part of Western Iowa, offering crucial support services through their family, health, and literacy programs. Our dedication shines bright, empowering families and promoting well-being for all. Firefly ensures that everyone has access to essential services to be school ready, healthy and thriving by age 5.

  • Family Support
  • Public Health
  • Literacy Programs

Intake Process:

Eligibility varies based on program/service. Contact Firefly for further information.

Hours:

Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm.

Website: Visit Website


The Food Bank of Iowa Mobile Pantry Program is designed to provide a flexible food assistance resource in locations that don’t have access to traditional resources. At each mobile pantry distribution, a Food Bank of Iowa truck delivers a customized load of food—produce, meat, bread and non-perishable items are common—to the prearranged mobile pantry site. Local volunteers set up a distribution system that looks much like a farmers market, distributing food to families and individuals in need throughout the scheduled time.

Food Book of Iowa partners with school districts across the state to provide food pantries in area schools. Information about which schools have Food Bank of Iowa pantries is available on the Food Bank of Iowa website.

  • Mobile food pantries
  • School food pantries

Eligibility:

Open to anyone.

Intake Process:

Visit the Food Bank of Iowa’s webpage to determine upcoming mobile pantry distributions, or to locate local school pantries.

Mailing Address:

PO Box 1517
Des Moines, IA 50305

Website: Visit Website


The Food Bank of Iowa Mobile Pantry Program is designed to provide a flexible food assistance resource in locations that don’t have access to traditional resources. At each mobile pantry distribution, a Food Bank of Iowa truck delivers a customized load of food—produce, meat, bread and non-perishable items are common—to the prearranged mobile pantry site. Local volunteers set up a distribution system that looks much like a farmers market, distributing food to families and individuals in need throughout the scheduled time.

Food Book of Iowa partners with school districts across the state to provide food pantries in area schools. Information about which schools have Food Bank of Iowa pantries is available on the Food Bank of Iowa website.

  • Mobile food pantries
  • School food pantries

Eligibility:

Open to anyone.

Intake Process:

Visit the Food Bank of Iowa’s webpage to determine upcoming mobile pantry distributions, or to locate local school pantries.

Website: Visit Website


The Friendship Center has been in existence since 1982 and has been a fixture in the MLK neighborhood of Des Moines, for more than 20 years. The Friendship Center begun through the ministry of the Baptist Convention of Iowa, the center now exists as a nonprofit organization. The Friendship Center offer several services that meet family and individuals’ physical needs in the community.

The Friendship Center offers a food pantry & clothing closet during their monthly Family Game Nights.  Anyone is welcome to participate. The Friendship Center also offers a supplemental Food program to neighbors in the immediate area.  Baby supplies and personal care items may be available as well. English as a Second Language classes are offered with childcare.

  • Food pantry
  • Clothing closet
  • Family game night
  • English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes

Intake Process:

ESL classes offered Mondays from 5:30 – 6:30 pm.

Food pantry and clothing closet are available during Friendship Center’s Family Game Nights.  Upcoming Family Game Nights are posted on the Friendship Center’s website.

Hours:

Family Game Nights are currently held on the last Saturday of the month from 4:00 – 6:30 pm. Check website to confirm schedule.

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Website: Visit Website