Connecting Parents to Community Support in Central Iowa

Families in rural Iowa communities often have limited access to affordable childcare, budget-friendly housing, low-cost mental health services, public transportation and substance abuse recovery programs.

And when they do, they can be limited or confusing to use. 

In June 2026, Thrive Iowa of Warren and Madison Counties launched to help ease these concerns. This community-led initiative of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services helps families move from crisis to stability in several core areas of life, including childcare housing, mental health, employment, education, transportation and recovery.

Since the launch, area non-profit agencies, churches and wellness-focused businesses have gathered to support 54 families in Warren and Madison Counties, according to statistics gathered by HopeHub, the initiative’s collaborative case management software that improves service coordination and measures outcomes. Among these participants, stability in financial security, employment, housing and food are improving. And, it’s all thanks to community partners working together for a common goal: to support Iowans. 

Areas of stability that still need improvement for these families include access to childcare and transportation. 

Keep The Momentum Going 

Thrive Iowa of Warren and Madison Counties Coordinator Sarah Downard facilitated a discussion titled “Stronger Families, Safer Children: Everyone Has a Role” at the Lighthouse Community Center in Indianola, Iowa during the October Thrive Iowa Alliance meeting.  

She, along with two guest panelists, talked about how parents and community partners can work together to create stronger, supported Iowa families. 

Stable and caring relationships protect children. When parents have convenient, coordinated access to essentials including dependable childcare, family-friendly workspaces, and reliable transportation, the entire family wins. 

Access and cost are often barriers to childcare, mental health services, substance abuse recovery and housing in the area, according to panelist Sadie Rhamy, Social Work Supervisor for Madison, Warren and Marion Counties with the Child Protective Services Operations Division of Family Well-Being and Protection at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. 

“Being able to locate appropriate housing, but also being able to afford appropriate housing, puts families sometimes in really difficult situations and has compromised safety at times for families that we work with,” Rhamy explained. 

She said many people experiencing hardships don’t know where to find essential services and how to get started with them. She hears participants explain a lack of family support, or not having a trusted person close by, to help them. 

Offering prevention care seems like a logical way to mitigate some of these issues, but program use rates are low. 

“We've had pilot programs in different service areas, and they've never really gone off the ground because it's just really hard to get a family to say, ‘I need help.’ It takes HHS to step in before they're willing to accept that help," panelist Adam Andres, Service Area Coordinator for the Children and Families of Iowa Parent Partner Program, added. 

Thrive Iowa's collective impact model not only surfaces local resources for participants, but also includes a care team. These community partners offer encouragement and assistance while participants take necessary steps to move forward during times of crisis. 

Building Trust, Working Together 

As the conversation continued, Downard highlighted the need for building trust with parents who feel overwhelmed and are hesitant to accept help. 

Andres shared that many participants are dealing with the trauma of having their children removed from the home, while managing their own challenges, including substance abuse or childhood trauma of their own. 

“Our whole program is based on building that trust and regaining that trust with the families that we're working with and really letting them understand that we're going to be here for you,” he added. 

It’s common for he and his staff to walk alongside participants both for termination and for reunification. 

“We will be there every step of the way, regardless of what it is, and regardless of the mistakes you've made,” Andres commented. “You're going to have support, at least from us, and we're going to understand that not only you are human, but where do we go from here and how do we change the outcome of your life?” 

Rhamy reminded alliance members and meeting visitors it’s important not to dictate what a participant is going to do, but to reinforce they are part of a team, and we are accomplishing things together. 

“It's more of a partnership with them on what's important. I think they can be part of this process and identify their goals as well,” she added.  

Another way to build trust is to follow through on your promises. Rhamy said most of the complaints she receives are based on someone not doing what they said they would.  

Taking a Compassionate Stance 

Downard sums it up well. Showing up unconditionally, despite the severity of the situation, being consistent with your support and allowing participants autonomy around their future creates forward momentum when moving from crisis to stability. 

“The fact that they choose this is going to give them a little bit more encouragement to be able to make the next step, because they were successful in that first step,” Downard said. “We want to be able to preserve families to the best of our community's ability.”