Thriving Families Alliance: A Year of Connection, Support, and Impact

June 2025

As we reflect on the past year, we are filled with gratitude for the partnerships, progress, and passion that continue to drive our work at Thriving Families Alliance. Together with community members, service providers, and organizations, we have taken meaningful steps to strengthen families, support children, and build resilient communities across our region.

We believe that every child deserves to grow up in a safe, supportive environment, and thanks to your continued involvement, we are making that vision a reality every day.

Thriving Families Alliance Leads the Way in Early Childhood Innovation

Thriving Families Alliance (TFA) has experienced tremendous growth and innovation over the past year in its mission to build a strong, connected system of services that ensures children are raised in secure, nurturing families and that those families live in safe, supportive communities. As the first organization in the state to create a regional affiliate for family support programs, Thriving Families Alliance continues to be a leader in advancing coordinated care for families. TFA is recognized for its robust coordinated intake system, which helps families access the right services at the right time. TFA provides backbone support for collective impact initiatives across the region, helping to align community efforts for greater outcomes. The organization has partnered with a state agency to identify and explore new approaches to resource navigation, ensuring families can easily connect with vital supports. Looking ahead, the Alliance is exploring expansion into additional counties over the next two years, further extending its reach and impact across the region.

Child and Family Resource Network: Supporting Families, Connecting to Services

This year, our Child and Family Resource staff delivered 5 community presentations and received 289 new referrals from trusted partners and agencies. As a result, many families enrolled in our home visitation programs, receiving personalized support in parenting, child development, and more.  In addition to families who qualified for enrollment, many others who did not meet program criteria were still connected to helpful community resources. Since April, 25 families have attended our 3 Parent Cafés, creating safe spaces for caregivers to build social connections and explore ways to strengthen their families. Our team is proud to be a trusted source of support for all families, whether it is to be connected to a family support program, parent café, or community resource. Please follow along with the HMS Hub activities on their website, https://www.childandfamilyresourcenetwork.org.

Southwest Iowa Regional Parents as Teachers: United and Stronger Together

This year marked a major milestone as the Southwest Iowa Regional Parents as Teachers program officially merged into a single affiliate. In the first year operating as one unified program, the team has continued to provide consistent, high-quality support to families across the region.

Over the past year, the affiliate has served 219 families and held 52 group connections and parenting classes. These gatherings provide families with a space to learn more about child development, build parenting skills, and connect with others who are navigating similar challenges and joys.

Family support matters because early experiences shape a child’s future. When parents have the tools, confidence, and support they need, children are more likely to thrive. Programs like Parents as Teachers help create stronger foundations for families by offering knowledge, encouragement, and a trusted connection.

We are proud of the work accomplished in this first year as a regional affiliate and look forward to continued growth and impact in the years to come.

Community Partnerships for Protecting Children: Education and Awareness Across the Region

Through the Community Partnerships for Protecting Children (CPPC) and the DECAT Consortium, staff and partners hosted 29 learning opportunities across Southwest Iowa. With over 550 participants, these sessions covered a wide range of important topics aimed at helping professionals and community members better support children and families.

Training topics included building protective factors, substance use prevention and overdose reversal, trauma-informed supervision, trauma-informed care, attachment, and more. Providing low-cost, accessible training is an important way we support those who care for and assist children and families, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to make a meaningful difference.

One of our proudest accomplishments this year was a partnership with Catholic Charities – Des Moines Diocese to raise awareness about sex trafficking, a critical issue affecting vulnerable youth. Together, we hosted film screenings and community discussions in Red Oak. The response was overwhelming, our first screening sold out, and due to high demand, we added a second to accommodate those eager to learn more and support the cause. In total, 101 community members participated in these powerful, eye-opening events.

Harrison, Monona, Shelby Hub: Empowering Families with Food, Tools, and Information

Thanks to a grant opportunity, the HMS Hub, in collaboration with multiple community agencies, was able to host a cooking workshop for parents, where every attending family received a free crockpot to take home. The event helped promote healthy, budget-friendly meals and family time in the kitchen. A class was held in each county. In Monona County, where 9 families participated, in Harrison County, 24 families participated, and our Shelby County class will be held this fall.

Our Food Insecurity Action Group created and distributed a helpful resource list of local food pantries and their hours of operation. This guide is now available throughout Harrison, Monona, and Shelby Counties and continues to support families facing food insecurity. This group is now looking at ways to overcome transportation barriers, allowing more families access to needed food items.

Looking ahead, the HMS Hub, in collaboration with Shelby County Prevent Child Abuse and Bridges out of Poverty, will host a poverty simulation event on June 23 in Harlan. This hands-on experience is designed to build awareness and understanding of the real-life challenges many families face in meeting basic needs. We hope this event will inspire action and empathy across our community.

Please follow along with the HMS Hub activities on their website, www.hmshub.org.

Thank you for Helping Families Thrive

Every connection made, every family supported, and every training held would not be possible without the dedication of our partners and the support of our community. Thank you for standing with us as we work toward a brighter future for all children and families.

We look forward to the year ahead and invite you to continue walking alongside us in this important work.

With gratitude,

Thriving Families Alliance