Disclaimer: This information was provided by agencies in the community. It may not be all-encompassing and some information changes often. For Poweshiek County offices and contact information, browse our county directory.
Updates: If you have an addition or edit to our Resource Guide, please contact us at Brooke.Holder@unitypoint.org.
Child Abuse 24-hour Reporting Hotline
If a child under the age of 18 is suspected of being abused or neglected, call the Child Abuse Hotline.
In Iowa, you can report suspected child abuse by calling the Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 362-2178. This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also call 911 if you believe a child is in immediate danger.
Children and Families of Iowa
Restoring Hope. Building Futures. Changing Lives.
People come to CFI when they need hope. They trust CFI to help them pick up the pieces, to listen, to offer ideas, and to work together with them to build solutions. CFI is there to give them hope for a better tomorrow.
Helping victims of domestic violence rebuild their lives.
Trauma-informed therapy and substance use solutions.
Career Planning & Work Readiness
Career development and support for at-risk youth and adults.
Affordable childcare with fun, age-appropriate programming
Assisting individuals with Social Security benefit management.
Support, classes, adoption services, and SafeCare.
Juvenile Justice Supported Services
Services and support for teens referred by Polk County Juvenile Court.
Des Moines, IA 50314
Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Court Appointed Special Advocates are ordinary people who care about children. They volunteer their time to support and advocate for children who currently have a case in the Child Welfare System.
CASA Volunteers amplify the voices of children who are currently in the Child Welfare System. You'll learn your role through comprehensive training, and then you'll be assigned your own case. A coach and a CASA coordinator will be there to support you along the way as you advocate in court for your assigned children.
Des Moines, IA 50319
Crisis Intervention Services (CIS)
Provide comprehensive sexual assault services, violent crime services, prevention programming, and emergency housing for victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and violent crimes for the counties of Appanoose, Davis, Jasper, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Poweshiek, Wapello, & Wayne.
- 844-673-5499 (Emergency Housing Crisis line)
- 800-270-1620 (Sexual Assault Crisis Line)
Grinnell, IA 50112
Dependent Adult Abuse
If you suspect elder abuse in Iowa, you can report it to Dependent Adult Protective Services at (800) 362-2178, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also call 911 if someone is in immediate danger.
If you suspect elder or dependent adult abuse, report it immediately to Dependent Adult Protective Services.
1-800-362-2178 (toll-free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.)
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. If you want to request a welfare check, call local law enforcement.
Reporting is confidential.
Dependent Adult Protective Services investigates reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of adults:
- 65 and older
- or 18 and older with a disability, who are dependent and do not reside in long-term care facilities.
To report suspected abuse in a long-term care facility, contact the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals Nursing Home and Home Health Complaint Hotline at 1-877-686-0027 or email hfd_complaint@dia.iowa.gov.
If you have concerns about your quality of care, quality of life or rights as a resident/tenant, or if you have concerns on behalf of your loved one who is living in one of Iowa's long-term care facilities, contact the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-866-236-1430.
For a coordinated entry point to Iowa’s information and referral resources regarding long-term independent living, contact Lifelong Links online or call 1-866-468-7887.
Know the Signs of Elder Abuse
Some adults may be at higher risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Types of elder abuse include:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Financial abuse or exploitation
- Neglect
- Self-Neglect
Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence
The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence supports a statewide network of 22 survivor programs, connects survivors with the assistance they need, and advocates for policy and community transformation to make Iowa a safer place for everyone.
Des Moines, IA 50322
My Body, My Rules CAP (Children Assault Prevention)
Greater Des Moines Child Assault Prevention (CAP) Program
The CAP program is a personal safety education program for schools. It uses a three-pronged approach to prevent child assault and maltreatment by presenting workshops for school staff, parents, and elementary school children. The program approaches prevention from a perspective of human dignity, mutual respect, and basic human rights. Everyone has the right to be safe, strong, and free.
If you represent an elementary school in the greater Des Moines metro area and are interested in having the CAP Program visit your school, Contact Janelle Ballhagen at 515-241-6703 or janelle.ballhagen@unitypoint.org.
Children's Workshop: This empowering approach to prevention explains that when another person tries to take away our rights to be safe, strong, and free - there are problems. Through interactive role-play, we demonstrate what the problems might look like.
The role plays include situations such as:
- Bullying (peer to peer assault)
- Abduction (assault by a stranger)
- Sexual Abuse (assault by a known person)
The role plays are each done two times. In the first role-play, the situation is not resolved. Important safety skills are introduced or reviewed for each situation. In the second role play, the situation is resolved successfully.
There is one final role play starring the classroom teacher. This role play shows what it might be like to talk about a problem with a trusted adult. After the children's workshop is review time in which kids can talk with a facilitator one-on-one. Review time participation is a choice made by the kids. It is always offered, but they don't have to do it.
Staff education and parent education are approximately one-hour sessions done at the school before the children's workshop. The children's workshop takes place in the classroom and is done by a team of three trained facilitators. The children's workshop is approximately 50-60 minutes in the classroom and about 30 minutes of review time after the classroom presentations.
Safety Concepts Presented
Definition of basic human rights:
- Turning to a peer for support
- Safe or trusted adults
- Definition of a stranger
- Self-protection skills (kicking, yelling, elbowing)
- Telling vs. tattling
- When assault happens, it is important to tell a safe adult and keep telling until someone listens
- Tricks used by unsafe adults or peers
- When assault happens to a child it is NEVER the child's fault
- It is OK to say no to a grown-up or peer when they make us feel uncomfortable
Des Moines , IA
Prairie Ridge Integrated Behavioral Healthcare
Prairie Ridge Integrated Behavioral Healthcare provides comprehensive mental health, substance use, and behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and adults.
Services include: counseling and therapy, psychiatry, substance use treatment, residential and outpatient programs, medication-assisted treatment, gambling services, crisis intervention, peer support, and prevention and education programs.
Grinnell, IA 50112
