Looking Ahead, Continuing to Build Stronger Families and Stronger Communities

August 2026

As we begin a new fiscal year, we are excited about the opportunities ahead. Every new year brings fresh possibilities to strengthen families, build partnerships, and expand the impact of prevention across Southwest Iowa. While some things will look different this year, our mission remains the same, to ensure children and families have the support they need to thrive.

Together with our community partners, we look forward to continuing the work of building resilient families, strengthening relationships, and creating communities where every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Thriving Families Alliance

Thriving Families Alliance will continue serving as a regional leader in early childhood and family well-being by bringing organizations, professionals, and communities together around a shared vision of prevention.

This year, we look forward to strengthening collaboration across our region, supporting community-driven solutions, and investing in initiatives that promote healthy child development, family well-being, and protective factors. We will continue connecting communities with funding opportunities that help expand services and improve outcomes for children and families. Organizations interested in current or upcoming funding opportunities are encouraged to visit Funding Opportunities | Thriving Families Alliance | Iowa for information on available funding, eligibility requirements, and application timelines.

 Although Our community partnerships for protecting children funding has come to an end, our commitment to professional learning has not. We recognize the value of equipping professionals and community members with practical, trauma informed tools that strengthen families before crises occur. We are actively exploring new partnerships and funding opportunities to continue offering affordable training opportunities throughout our region. To view our current training calendar, and learn more about upcoming opportunities, visit Trainings | TFA Official.

This year, we will continue offering trainings including:

• Hope (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences)

• Protective Factors Framework

• Connections Matter

• CRI Trauma Informed Certification

• Resilience

• Hope

• Question Persuade Refer Suicide Prevention

• FLIP It

Child and Family Resource Network

The Child and Family Resource Network will continue connecting expectant parents and families with young children to the supports they need, when they need them most. We look forward to increasing awareness of the free family support services available throughout our region. We will continue strengthening referral partnerships with healthcare providers, schools, childcare providers, and community organizations while making it easier for families to connect with the resources that best meet their unique needs.

Our parent cafes will continue creating welcoming spaces where caregivers can learn, share experiences, build social connections, and strengthen the protective factors that help families thrive. We also look forward to expanding outreach through community presentations and events that help more families learn about the free supports available throughout Southwest Iowa.

If your organization would like to learn more about the Child and Family Resource Network or explore ways we can work together to better serve families, we would be happy to visit with you. To schedule a presentation or learn more about partnership opportunities, please contact Carrie Powders at cpowders@thrivingfamiliesalliance.org.

Northwest and Southwest Iowa Regional Parents as Teachers Affiliates

As the Southwest and Northwest Regional Parents as Teachers Affiliate continues to grow, we remain committed to providing home visiting services across our 11-county area.  This year, we will continue supporting family support professionals through consistent training, reflective supervision, and coaching to ensure families receive high-quality relationship-based services no matter where they live.

Our focus remains on helping parents build confidence, supporting healthy child development, strengthening parent/child interactions and relationships, and connecting families with resources that meet their individual needs. Through our evidence-based Parents as Teachers model, families will continue receiving personalized home visits, developmental screenings that help identify strengths and concerns early, and support in setting family goals that reflect what matters most to them. We also work alongside families to create opportunities for positive childhood experiences by strengthening nurturing relationships, encouraging positive interactions, and helping parents build the safe, supportive environments children need to thrive. We look forward to expanding opportunities for families to connect with one another through group connections and community events that foster learning, encouragement, and belonging.

Looking Ahead Together

Meaningful change happens when communities work together. Every partnership formed, every family supported, every professional equipped, and every child given a strong start helps create healthier communities for generations to come.  As we look ahead, we are grateful for the organizations, professionals, community members, and families who make this work possible. Together, we will continue investing in children, strengthening families, and building communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.