Provider Resources

1st Five, Healthy Mental Development Initiative, is a project funded by the Iowa Legislature (IDPH) to assist medical providers in enhancing well-child care 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 515-558-9954 for more information.

An approach used by child-serving organizations, the 5-2-1-0 program promotes healthy habits throughout central Iowa. We invite individuals and organizations to join us in creating healthy places for children and families to live, learn, and play!

Who do we serve?

Child care facilities from preschool to 12th grade, school buildings and districts, before- and after-school programs, and community partners.

How does 5-2-1-0 work?

5-2-1-0 partners with sites to implement evidence-based strategies to promote healthy habits. Sites analyze current needs and create individualized action plans to help make the healthy choice the easy choice through education and systems change.

What can we do?

Support is provided to sites through trainings, technical assistance, resources, and community partnerships. Contact the Community Health 5-2-1-0 Coordinator for Polk, Warren, and Dallas counties by email at 5210@everystep.org.

Learn more about 5-2-1-0

Our Care & Support Services provide medical and social services for women, children and families, adults and seniors, and communities in Des Moines and across Iowa. Many of these programs are listed below, and additional programs are listed on our Provider Resources page. Formerly known as Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa, EveryStep Care & Support Services offers dozens of programs.

Learn more about our Care and Support Services.

The CCNC Program provides on-site consultation and training to early education centers and child care 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 child care programs. They also perform screenings, help develop care plans for children with special needs, and make referrals to other programs when appropriate. CCNC serves Clinton, Jackson, Dallas, and Polk Counties. 

Correctly Compliant Program: This program aims to ensure that all pre-K children who attend a licensed child care center meet the minimum immunization requirements based on Iowa law. Our nurses conduct on-site audits of immunization records, provide written documentation on children without required immunizations, make referrals to health care providers, look up immunizations, and provide technical assistance to improve record keeping. This program serves Polk County.

To learn more, please call (515) 558-9993.

The Children at Home program assists families raising a child with a disability by helping them obtain needed services and supports that are necessary in helping their child remain at home. The Children at Home 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 supports 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 about Children at Home.

The Community Action Network (CAN) is a collaboration of organizations, agencies, programs, and individuals in central Iowa with a focus on improving the lives of people in our community. Through the development of educational tools and resources, we help providers, caregivers, parents, and other community members understand best practices in caring for children and families.

Learn more about CAN.

EveryStep Community Health offers nursing services to businesses and organizations that lack on-staff nurses to support the health needs of their clients and employees.

Learn more about our Community Health programs.

• Prenatal and post-partum health education.
• Child development screening and education.
• Perinatal depression screening and referral.
• Caregiver depression screenings.
• Referrals to community resources.
• Nutrition counseling.
• Family planning counseling.

Head Start is a school readiness program that serves children ages 0-5, including children with disabilities. Our nurses provide support to 16 Drake University Head Start sites by:

• Ensuring that immunizations, physicals, and other medical records are up to date.
• Conducting screenings or assisting in the coordination of screenings for children in regard to vision, hearing, dental, and lead.
• Assisting in development of care plans for children with special health needs.
• Making referrals as needed.

To learn more, please call (515) 558-9993.

EveryStep Giving Tree thrift store, 3330 100th St. in Urbandale, Iowa, sells and accepts donations of gently used clothing, accessories, furniture, home decor, household items, bedding and more. All proceeds benefit the people served by EveryStep's non-profit care and support programs. Learn about donating, volunteering and shopping at the store at everystepgivingtree.org.

Learn more about EveryStep Giving Tree Thrift Store.

EveryStep offers a special program for new and expecting dads in Polk County called Fathers Matter. The program offers support, education and information for fathers of children enrolled in the Healthy Start Project. Our Fathers Matter consultant can provide:

• Home visits.
• Tips for new dads.
• Information about baby’s health.
• Information about safety concerns.
• Strategies to help fathers succeed.

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

EveryStep Grief & Loss Services offers a variety of grief support opportunities provided at no cost for anyone in the community. These opportunities include the Amanda the Panda program. Available to individuals and families of all ages, our services include the following:

• Monthly and quarterly support groups.
• Eight-week educational support groups.
• Information about safety concerns.
• Memorial gatherings.
• Peer support.
• Online support.
• Family nights.
• Mailed resources.

Life after the loss of a loved one is a difficult time of adjustment. At EveryStep, we are honored to listen to your story and walk with you during your time of sorrow and to help you navigate the many feelings associated with loss, such as sadness, anger, frustration, shock, numbness, denial, guilt, emotional distancing, lack of interest and confidence, relationship difficulties, anxiety and panic.

Learn more about our grief and loss programs.

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.

Learn more about Hawki

Healthy Homes Iowa is an EveryStep program focused on working with families to identify and reduce triggers related to pediatric asthma. Our goal is to support improved asthma control and reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations related to pediatric asthma in Iowa. Through this program, households with children suffering from asthma receive home assessments to address asthma triggers and families receive health information and education to self-manage asthma and maintain a healthy home. EveryStep is proud to lead this effort by providing outreach and health education, as well as care coordination for children with asthma.

Learn more about Healthy Homes Iowa.

This program provides visits to pregnant and parenting women that would like extra support to ensure a healthy child and family as well as their own health. Whether you are pregnant or parenting a child under the age of six, EveryStep’s Healthy Start Program provides free personalized one-on-one education and health screenings for pregnant and postpartum women in Polk County. 

EveryStep’s Healthy Start Project received the Iowa Family Support Credential. Quality prenatal care guidance through the Healthy Start Program will help to ensure your baby will be as healthy as possible. Ongoing parent education and child development support helps to guide your child on the path to enter school ready to learn. 

• Individualized prenatal and postpartum health education.
• Child developmental screening and education.
• Depression screening and referral.
• Access to community resources.
• Nutrition counseling.
• Family planning counseling.
• Breastfeeding support and education.
• Help choosing medical coverage and a doctor.
• Links to community resources.
• Opportunities to attend program groups including parent/child and consumer leadership opportunities.
• Infant care and safety education.

Referrals can be made by an individual, physician, social worker, family member or friend. To learn if you or someone you know could benefit, please call (515) 558-9946. Bilingual case managers and interpreters are available.

Learn more about Healthy Start.

EveryStep Home Care is a nonprofit provider with experience and a solid reputation going back more than 100 years. We have nurses across Iowa who can provide a wide variety of in-home care services to keep you or your loved one comfortable. Our agency is Medicare-certified and Medicaid-certified.

Learn more about our Home Care program.

EveryStep Hospice helps those living with a serious illness make the best out of every day. EveryStep Hospice is Iowa's oldest and largest not-for-profit, community-based hospice provider. Since launching our hospice program in 1978, thousands of Iowans have turned to us to find comfort and care when they needed it most. All hospices focus on providing pain management and symptom control. However, each hospice is independently run and provides its own programs and services.

Learn more about our Hospice program.

We have developed a reputation for hard work, dedication, honesty, and integrity. Our highly trained interpreters are here to bridge the gap in the area of linguistics. We provide interpretation in the professional field of social work, healthcare, legal, and education. We strive to provide interpretation and translation services to our growing refugee immigration population as our local demographics continue to become more diverse. Our program includes a Community Interpreter Training and Refugee Immigrant Guide efforts.

Learn more about our interpretation program.

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 about IFSN.

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 chestfeeding 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. Please contact us for more information at 515-558-9946 for Polk and Dallas Counties and 515-661-3715 for Clinton and Jackson Counties.

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) 333-4533 or email nine2thrive@everystep.org.

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 about the NFP Program

EveryStep's Senior Companion program provides weekly assistance at no cost to older adults who may be homebound and can benefit from extra social/emotional support, transportation to appointments, help with shopping, or respite for clients' caregivers. 

Senior Companions must be a resident of Polk, Warren, Marion, Lucas, or Pottawattamie Counties, be age 55 or older, and meet income guidelines. Senior Companions receive a stipend and other benefits. The program is offered at no charge to residents of Polk, Warren, Marion, Lucas, and Pottawattamie Counties who are 21 or older and need extra support to continue to live independently in their homes. 

Participants report that they are better able to remain living independently in their own home with help from the Senior Companion program.

Call (515) 558-9957 or email SeniorComp@everystep.org to see if you or a loved one may be eligible to participate in the Senior Companion Program. If you are not eligible to be a Senior Companion volunteer, other volunteer opportunities are available on our volunteer page. 

EveryStep's Share the Joy program is a way for businesses, organizations, and individuals to "sponsor" a family and make the holidays brighter for those in need. Each fall, families are identified and asked to provide wish lists. Many times, lists consist of basic household necessities such as diapers, clothing, and other items parents and caregivers are struggling to provide for their families. We encourage families to also include toys and other items that would bring joy during the holidays. Sponsors are assigned a family and given a list of items to purchase. Once gifts are collected and wrapped, they can be dropped off at EveryStep's offices. Our staff and volunteers then make deliveries to families between December 21 and 24. 

Call 515-271-1335 for more information.

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. Parenting and prenatal classes are also available.

Learn more at (515) 558-9950.

The Storybook Project keeps incarcerated parents and their children connected through reading at the Iowa Correctional Institution in Mitchellville and at the Newton Correctional Facility in Newton. Once a month, parents and grandmothers select one book per child and read to their children birth to age 17 through a digital voice recorder with the assistance of a trained volunteer. The stories are burnt onto a CD and mailed, along with the book, to the child. The mission is to strengthen the bond between parent and child during incarceration while promoting reading and literacy.

If you are interested in volunteering or contributing to the Storybook Project, please call (515) 558-6228.             

View a list of local resources that are able to assist families during the holiday and winter season.             

Learn more about local winter assistance programs.