Care & Support

1st Five, Healthy Mental Development Initiative, is a project funded by the Iowa Legislature (IDPH) to assist medical providers in enhancing well-childcare for children birth to age five through surveillance and screening of child development, family stress indicators and caregiver depression. If a concern is detected through completion of surveillance or a developmental screening tool, the child is then linked to EveryStep for developmental support services. After developmental support services are provided, the 1st Five Developmental Support Specialist then contacts the referring medical provider regarding the outcome of the referral. 1st Five understands that the health and well-being of family members directly impacts the health of an infant or young child.

A referral to 1st Five often benefits the whole family. The 1st Five program is available to any medical provider or clinic providing primary care services which are willing to implement the 1st Five referral form and developmental screening tool(s). Any child identified as needing additional services is eligible for developmental support services.

Call (515) 558-9946 for more information.

EveryStep operates Care for Kids — an early periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment (EPSDT) program. EPSDT is the benefit package of Medicaid/Title 19 for individuals under age 21 years.

The focus is to:

• Inform families of the benefits they receive with Medicaid/Title 19.
• Help individuals secure a medical and dental home.
• Ensure that eligible individuals receive and understand the importance of preventative health care.
• Link families to other community resources to improve their health and well-being (WIC, Early ACCESS, parenting classes, childcare assistance, housing assistance, food pantries, etc.)

Serving Dallas, Madison, Polk and Warren Counties. Call (877) 540-1422 for additional information.
 

The CCNC Program provides on-site consultation and training to early education centers and childcare providers on issues related to health and safety. Our nurses offer technical assistance, conduct assessments, provide help with disease outbreaks and collaborate to make improvements in childcare programs. They also perform screenings, help develop care plans for children with special needs, and make referrals to other programs when appropriate. CCNC serves Polk, Dallas, Warren and Madison Counties.  

To learn more, please call (515) 558-9946.

The Children at Home program assists families raising a child with a disability by helping them obtain needed services and support that are necessary in helping their child remain at home. The program believes that families should retain control of decisions that affect their child and family as a whole. Financial assistance is intended to enable families to obtain services and support that are not met by other programs. The family's intent must be to secure these resources to enable their child to remain in the family home, function more independently in the home and engage in the community.

Intake and referral specialists are available via telephone Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1-888-IAKIDS1 (1-888-425-4371).

Learn more here.

Hawki is affordable medical and dental insurance through the state of Iowa. Unlike other programs with more restrictive income guidelines, Hawki coverage can help families at a wide variety of income levels. The monthly premium costs are based on income, but no family pays more than $40, regardless of how many children they have. In fact, this resource is open to many families that are unaware of their eligibility - making Hawki a highly underutilized tool in Iowa.

To learn more, please call (515) 558-9946 or click here. 
 

Healthy Homes Iowa is an EveryStep program which works with families and community partners to reduce health hazards in Polk County homes. Qualifying homeowners and renters can receive free assessments and modifications that address potential causes of illness or injury, such as moisture and mold, pests and insects, trip hazards, or poor ventilation, insulation or lighting.

Contact us about assessing your home.

The Des Moines Healthy Start Project at EveryStep understands that every healthy baby starts with a healthy mother.  Healthy Start focuses on the period before, during, and after pregnancy by pairing pregnant and women of reproductive age, their partners, infants, and toddlers with a dedicated care coordinator who tailors services to each family’s needs. Services include:

• Ongoing visits offered in the home, by phone, or during group-based education sessions.
• Health education and screenings.
• Mental health screenings and referrals.
• Connections to community resources.
• Clinical and non-clinical health services.
• Emotional support.

Healthy Start services are at no cost and available to women who are pregnant or of reproductive age, their partner, infants, and toddlers that reside in the following ZIP Codes: 50009, 50265, 50266, 50312, 50313, 50314, 50316, 50317, and 50320.

For more information about Healthy Start, please call (515) 558-9946.

The I-Smile™ Program provides oral health screenings, oral health education, nutrition education relating to oral health, fluoride varnish application and a referral to a dentist for comprehensive dental needs. The program serves children under the age of 21 and pregnant women. We assist families:

• Find a dental home or dental coverage for their child.
• Acquire assistance to set up appointments with the dentist or find dentists who accept Medicaid.
• Transport their child to the dental appointment.
• Have translation services regarding their dental care.

For more information, please contact the I-Smile Program at (515) 558-9946. 

Iowa Family Support Network provides a coordinated intake and Iowa Family Support Network referral system to assist families, child healthcare providers and other professionals with information and support, as well as linkages to resources for young children ages zero to six.

Families, child healthcare providers and other professionals have access to a toll-free phone number to make referrals and obtain information about family support services, group-based services, IDEA Part C early intervention known as Early ACCESS and other community supports in Iowa. Information specialists are available via telephone Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1-888-IAKIDS1 (1-888-425-4371).

Learn more here.
 

EveryStep’s maternal child health (MCH) services & community home visitation program brings health care and education to expectant or parenting moms in their homes. During nurse home visits, women in the community who are pregnant receive health assessments and education. Visits are also made with those who have delivered their babies. Services include:

• Post-partum assessments and education for the mother.
• Health and developmental screenings for the infant.
• Newborn care and education.
• Breastfeeding and chest feeding education and support.
• Links to community resources.
• Individualized health education and support based on maternal and/or infant needs.

Individuals who are pregnant or post-partum who would benefit from a home visit by a nurse as eligible, as are children who are identified as needing additional health screening and assessment. 

EveryStep's Nine2Thrive program was launched in 2019 to support the healthy development of babies during pregnancy. Studies show that stress during pregnancy can have a direct effect on unborn babies, possibly resulting in pre-term birth, low birth weight and poor physical and emotional health by the age of 18 months. Additionally, there is evidence that stress can imprint on a developing baby's DNA, resulting in negative health issues across multiple generations.

The Nine2Thrive project model is a public-private partnership bridging primary care and public health services. If a concern is identified during an initial intake assessment at a prenatal visit with an obstetrician or midwife, the mother is connected to a Nine2Thrive support specialist. The support specialist coordinates referrals and interventions and provides targeted follow-up with the mother. These services are also extended to address the needs of the entire family.

To learn more, please call (515) 558-9946 or email nine2thrive@everystep.org.

Stork’s Nest is an educational incentive program for new and expecting moms who live in Polk County and meet income guidelines. Participants earn points for healthy behaviors such as keeping medical appointments, smoking cessation, WIC participation, breastfeeding, school attendance and more. Points can then be redeemed at the Stork’s Nest store for needed baby items such as diapers, clothing, strollers, cribs and car seats. 

Learn more at (515) 558-9946.
 

EveryStep offers a variety of family planning services, health education and resources, wellness tests and screenings, as well as preventative health services. If you are eligible to enroll in EveryStep’s Family Planning program, most of your basic family planning services will be paid for. All provided services are kept confidential.

Learn more here.

EveryStep’s Well-Being Connections program offers FREE support to entire families when a child experiences a mental health crisis occurs. Our team immediately surrounds parents and caregivers with advocacy, assistance and empowerment, so you have what you need to support your child. And we can continue to support you for up to 12 months after the crisis occurs.

Call (515) 558-9946 or email us at wellbeingconnections@everystep.org. 
 

Certain times of the year can be especially stressful for families in need. During the winter holidays, gifts and special celebrations often take a back seat to basic necessities. And in the summer, children are out of school and families must often spend more on food and childcare, reducing their ability to afford other basic necessities.

Through EveryStep’s Share the Joy program, families receive baskets filled with household items like laundry detergent, paper goods, hygiene products and more.

A simple act of kindness can provide temporary relief, as well as hope, by letting families know they are not alone.

Call (515) 558-9946 or email us at giving@everystep.org to learn more.

The Nurse Family Partnership Program matches first-time parents with a Nurse Home Visitor who provides ongoing education and support beginning during the mother’s pregnancy and continuing until the child turns two years old.
For more information about the Nurse Family Partnership Program, please call (515) 558-9946.

Learn more here.

The Healthy Start consortia (formerly the Community Action Network, or CAN) is a collaboration of organizations, agencies, programs and individuals from various sectors of the community to address pressing perinatal health issues and improve quality and access to clinical care, social support and education services in our community.

Call (515) 558-9946 or email us at HSConsortia@everystep.org to learn more. 

EveryStep Community Health nurses provide on-site nursing assessments at both the men's and women’s residential facilities in Des Moines for offenders who have recently been released from jail or prison through work release and probation programs.

To learn more, please call (800) 806-9934.
 

The Community Health Visitation program assists with home nursing visits and provides education for pregnant and parenting women.

Please contact our intake department at (515) 558-9946 for more information.

EveryStep’s Healthy Families America home visiting program is designed to support parents and caregivers, share information about child development and parenting, promote healthy and nurturing parent-child relationships, and provide information and referrals to strengthen families.  Home visits are scheduled at each family's convenience.  Healthy Families staff will:  

•    Share information and activities related to you and your child.
•    Help you learn to understand and respond to your baby’s cues.
•    Partner with you to learn about your child’s development.
•    Support the health and wellbeing of the whole family.
•    Work with you to identify areas where you might want additional support.
•    Check in with you to make sure our services continue to meet your needs.
•    Services are available for up to three to five years.

Healthy Families America services are at no cost and available to pregnant women and families with a child under the age of six living in Polk County.
For more information about Healthy Families America, please call (515) 558-9946.