Early Support. Lasting Impact. Thriving Families Alliance in Action

August 2025

At Thriving Families Alliance, we believe that supporting families early builds stronger communities for generations to come. Our mission is to empower caring Southwest Iowa communities to support the well-being of every child.

Meeting the needs of children and families takes collaboration. We work with partners across Southwest Iowa to strengthen connections, share resources, and create opportunities that help families thrive. Whether through partnerships, funding, education, or advocacy, we are committed to ensuring every child grows up surrounded by safety, opportunity, and care.

Key Initiatives That Bring Our Mission to Life

Child & Family Resource Network (CFRN)

The Child & Family Resource Network connects pregnant women and families with children ages birth to five to free, supportive programs across Southwest Iowa. CFRN helps families access parenting support, developmental screenings, health resources, and early learning opportunities tailored to their needs.

In addition to connecting families to supportive programming, the CFRN website offers a variety of family-friendly resources, including blogs and downloadable guides to help parents navigate parenting challenges, strengthen relationships, and support their child’s development. These tools are designed to help families make the most of everyday moments while building strong, lasting connections.

This initiative reflects our mission by ensuring access to services that help parents build strong, nurturing foundations in the earliest and most critical years of their children’s lives.

To make a referral, visit https://www.childandfamilyresourcenetwork.org. To schedule a presentation or request materials, please contact CFRN Coordinator Carrie Powders at cpowders@thrivingfamiliesalliance.org.

Southwest Iowa Region Parents As Teachers (PAT)

Our newly merged regional Parents As Teachers (PAT) affiliate started at the beginning of Fiscal Year 2025, and we are thrilled with the support, collaboration, growth, and development that have happened over the last year. We are proud to share that our affiliate met all of the 21 Essential Requirements and has implemented new policies and procedures to enhance service delivery and overall program quality. 

The affiliate team consists of 3 quality supervisors, 11 parent educators, and a regional administrator. The team works in partnership to align actual practice with best practice, state and federal requirements, and family needs. 

We remain focused on providing the highest quality PAT services to families regardless of their location within our region while ensuring staff have reduced data burden and increased support, specifically through supervision and connection with other family support professionals. This allows our educators to spend more time building strong relationships with parents and helping families create the best possible start for their children.

For questions about our regional affiliate, contact the Affiliate Administrator, Jordan Morse, at jmorse@thrivingfamiliesalliance.org.

Harrison, Monona, & Shelby County Hub (HMS Hub)

The HMS Hub is a collaborative initiative focused on prevention, early intervention, and better outcomes for children and families across Harrison, Monona, and Shelby counties. By bringing together service providers, organizations, and residents, the Hub strengthens connections between systems to reduce trauma, prevent out-of-home placements, and ensure that families receive timely and coordinated support.

This year, the Hub will continue its focus on two established community priorities: Food Insecurity and Employment and Income Stability. These areas are being addressed through dedicated Action Groups composed of local agencies and community members working toward clearly defined goals. By building on the momentum of past efforts, the groups are continuing to reduce barriers and improve access to critical resources.

In addition to Action Group activities, the Hub hosts quarterly community meetings to share updates, strengthen partnerships, and explore pressing issues facing families. These meetings provide valuable opportunities for networking, collaboration, and problem-solving across systems.

By facilitating communication and aligning resources, the HMS Hub supports a culture of shared responsibility for family well-being. This work directly supports our mission by helping communities work together to keep families safe, supported, and resilient.

Upcoming HMS Hub Meetings:

• Employment and Income Action Group (Virtual): Third Monday of each month at 9:00 AM

• Food Insecurity Action Group (Virtual): First Thursday of each month at 10:00 AM

• HMS Hub Community Meeting (Hybrid): September 22, 2025, at 10:00 AM in Monona County

To learn more or get involved, visit www.hmshub.org or contact Collaborative Director Tiffani Pinkerton at tpinkerton@thrivingfamiliesalliance.org.

Community Partnerships For Protecting Children (CPPC)

Community Partnerships for Protecting Children is rooted in the belief that children are safest when families are strong and communities are engaged. CPPC brings together professionals, families, and community members to build long-term solutions through collaboration and shared leadership. Four key strategies guide this work: shared decision-making, neighborhood networking, individualized support planning, and policy and practice change.

A central part of CPPC is offering professional development that strengthens the capacity of those who serve children and families. Thriving Families Alliance is proud to provide a range of learning opportunities featuring local experts, national presenters, and in-house facilitators. These trainings promote trauma-informed care, strengthen shared practice across systems, and help ensure that professionals and caregivers are equipped with the tools, knowledge, and language needed to create safer and more compassionate communities.

This fall's offerings include:

• Motivating Change: Communication Tools for Building Trust and Partnership (September 3, webinar with University of Nebraska–Omaha)

• Understanding Addiction, Reducing Stigma, and Reversing Overdoses (September 17, in-person training in Harlan with Rosecrance Jackson Centers and Myrtue Medical Center)

• Virtual Screening of Chasing Childhood (September 25)

Additional sessions are in development on topics such as family engagement, restorative culture, communication strategies, poverty simulation, and de-escalation and crisis intervention.

We invite you to explore upcoming opportunities and join us in building a more connected and informed regional network of support. Visit thrivingfamiliesalliance.org/trainings for full details and registration.

Looking Ahead: Building a Thriving Future Together

The earliest years of a child’s life lay the foundation for everything that follows. Experiences during this time shape brain development, learning, relationships, and long-term well-being. That is why our work focuses on prevention, early connection, and building strong systems of support around families.

Thriving Families Alliance is honored to stand alongside the dedicated professionals, parents, and community leaders who are helping make Southwest Iowa a place where children and families are seen, valued, and supported.

Thank you for being part of this shared mission. Together, we are not only supporting families today but creating a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive.