Health and Oral Health Resources

Health/ Oral Health

Count the Kicks: http://www.countthekicks.org
Count the Kicks is an awareness campaign dedicated to educating expectant parents about the importance of counting their babies movements daily during the third trimester of pregnancy. The goal of Count the Kicks is to improve the chances of delivering a healthy baby and to reduce stillbirth rates, which occur in one out of every 150 pregnancies nationwide.
CuidadodeSalud.Gov: http://www.CuidadodeSalud.Gov
The first website in Spanish of its kind to help consumers take control of their health care by connecting them to new information and resources that will help them access quality, affordable health care coverage.
Text 4 Baby: The National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition: http://www.text4baby.org
Text4baby is a free mobile information service designed to promote maternal and child health. An educational program of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB), text4baby provides pregnant women and new moms with information they need to take care of their health and give their babies the best possible start in life. Women who sign up for the service by texting BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411 will receive free SMS text messages each week, timed to their due date or baby’s date of birth.

Community Resources-Statewide

Additional Links:

Visiting Nurse Services: Visiting Nurse Services Quick Guide to Community Resources, Jan. 2018

ChildNet Child Care Resource and Referral: http://www.centraliowachildcare.org

Iowa Child Care Resource and Referral agencies are community based agencies that lend a helping hand to people who care for and about children.

Iowa 211: http://www.211iowa.org

2-1-1 is the national abbreviated dialing code for free confidential access to health and human services information and referral. It is an easy to remember universal number for people to gain access to services without having to search them out on their own. Realizing people have a variety of means to seek out information, in addition to dialing 2-1-1, our database is available on this searchable website.

Iowa Child Care and Early Education Network: http://www.iowachildnetwork.org/

Iowa Department of Human Services: https://secureapp.dhs.state.ia.us/oasis/

The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) introduces a new Online Application for State of Iowa Services (OASIS).  OASIS is for people applying for benefits administered by DHS, including:

  • Food Assistance (formerly known as food stamps)
  • Family Investment Program (limited time cash assistance for families with children)
  • Medical Assistance (Medicaid, HAWK-I, other health insurance programs)
  • Child Care Assistance (subsidized childcare for the working poor)

Iowa Department of Public Health: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/default.aspx

Iowa State University Extension: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/

Iowa State University Extension builds partnerships and provides research-based learning opportunities to improve quality of life in Iowa.

Women, Infants & Children (WIC): http://www.idph.state.ia.us/wic/families.asp

Women, Infants & Children (WIC), is a supplemental nutrition program for babies, children under the age of 5, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and women who have had a baby in the last six months.  WIC helps families by providing healthy foods, nutrition education and referrals to other health care agencies.

Community Resources- Polk County

Lead-Safe Homes

Metropolitan Partnership for Lead Safe Housing: http://www.metroleadsafe.org/The Metropolitan Partnership for Lead Safe Housing is a Public-Private partnership to provide financial assistance to repair lead-based paint hazards in homes in Polk and Dallas Counties. Lead-based paint is the primary source of lead poisoning of children in Iowa. Lead poisoning can cause permanent brain damage in young children. Low interest loans, forgivable loans or grants are available.

 

National Organizations

Head Start Body Start: http://www.headstartbodystart.org
Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play’s (HSBS) newly designed Web site provides the Head Start, Early Head Start, and early child care and education community with enhanced features and resources.

 

National Center for Children in Poverty: http://www.nccp.org
The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) is the nation’s leading public policy center dedicated to promoting the economic security, health, and well-being of America’s low-income families and children. NCCP uses research to inform policy and practice with the goal of ensuring positive outcomes for the next generation. We promote family-oriented solutions at the state and national levels.

 

National Child Care Information Center: http://www.nccic.org
The National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center (NCCIC), a service of the Child Care Bureau, is a national clearinghouse and technical assistance center that provides comprehensive child care information resources and TA services to  Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Administrators and other key stakeholders.

 

Spark Action: http://www.sparkaction.org
Brings together the latest news, research, trends and stories from across the child and youth field so you can get informed and take action on the issues that matter most to you.

 

Zero to Three: http://www.zerotothree.org
ZERO TO THREE is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in the lives of infants and toddlers.

Family Finances

Hands on Banking: http://www.handsonbanking.org
Wells Fargo & Company provides free, innovative, interactive financial education through its program Hands on Banking.  These programs and lessons teach students and adults the basics of good money management.

 

My Money: http://Mymoney.gov
MyMoney.gov is the U.S. government’s website dedicated to teaching all audiences the basics about financial education.  There is information about home buying, balancing a checkbook and investing in 401(k).

Family Literacy

International Reading Association: http://www.reading.org
  • Improving the quality of reading instruction
  • Disseminating research and information about reading
  • Encouraging the lifetime reading habit
National Center for Family Literacy: http://www.famlit.org
NCFL is a leading national nonprofit organization with an incredible mission: we are building a more literate and prosperous nation by helping parents and children learn together.
Reading is Fundamental: http://www.rif.org
Reading is Fundamental, Inc. prepares and motivates children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most.

Safety

Lead-Safe Homes

Metropolitan Partnership for Lead Safe Housing: http://www.metroleadsafe.org/The Metropolitan Partnership for Lead Safe Housing is a Public-Private partnership to provide financial assistance to repair lead-based paint hazards in homes in Polk and Dallas Counties. Lead-based paint is the primary source of lead poisoning of children in Iowa. Lead poisoning can cause permanent brain damage in young children. Low interest loans, forgivable loans or grants are available.

Family/Parenting Resources

Domestic Violence

Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence: http://www.icadv.org/
The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) is a state level non-profit organization.  Currently 28 direct service domestic violence programs across the state are members of the Coalition.  ICADV staff members provide training, counseling, community outreach, program management and technical support for the Coalition members, professionals and the community.
The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence: http://www.nrcdv.org/index.php
It is the NRCDV’s mission to improve societal and community responses to domestic violence and, ultimately, prevent its occurrence. We provide a wide range of free, comprehensive, and individualized technical assistance, training, and specialized resource materials and projects designed to enhance current intervention and prevention strategies.

Fatherhood

Iowa Fatherhood: http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/fatherhood
National Fatherhood Initiative: http://www.fatherhood.org
NFI’s mission is to improve the well-being of children by increasing the proportion of children growing up with an involved, responsible, and committed father.

Infants and Toddlers (Birth to Age Three)

Zero to Three: http://www.zerotothree.org
ZERO TO THREE is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in the lives of infants and toddlers.

 

Text 4 Baby: The National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition: http://www.text4baby.org
Text4baby is a free mobile information service designed to promote maternal and child health. An educational program of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB), text4baby provides pregnant women and new moms with information they need to take care of their health and give their babies the best possible start in life. Women who sign up for the service by texting BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411 will receive free SMS text messages each week, timed to their due date or baby’s date of birth.