Parenting Resources and Support

Accredited Drug Testing Inc (ADT) provides DNA testing Newton using certified DNA collection specialists and nationally accredited AABB Laboratories for all DNA testing Newton needs which will insure the highest accuracy for DNA testing Newton results. DNA testing Newton centers are usually located within minutes of your home or office and the entire process to schedule and conduct a DNA test is Fast, Easy and Confidential.

To schedule a DNA testing Newton location call (800) 221-4291.

Adoption records: Birth records

Certified lactation counselors offer a course that focuses on breastfeeding. Address first two hours after delivery, teaching your baby to suck, tips on milk production, reducing barriers experienced when breastfeeding and returning to work, nutrition and birth control for mothers nursing, and much more.

Phone: 888-229-9223

A parent or the person caring for a child(ren) can apply for Child Support Services. Apply for Child Support Services to:

• Establish paternity
• Establish child and medical support
• Collect child and medical support

The person receiving support is required to pay a $35 annual fee for services unless the case meets waiver requirements. See the Annual Fee page for more information.

The application must be completed in its entirety as it will not be saved for you to return to. The following information will be helpful to have before starting:

• Applicant’s information including Social Security number (SSN), date of birth (DOB), and contact information
• Non-Applicant’s information including SSN, DOB, and contact information, if known
• Child(ren)’s information including SSN, DOB, and paternity information, if known
• Court order information, if applicable
• Marriage and divorce information, if applicable

If you are a person caring for a child(ren) and not the parent of that child(ren), and would like to request services from both parents, you will need to complete two applications. One for each parent.

If you already have a case as a parent or caretaker for the children in your care, contact your case manager.

The online application will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. Prefer paper? Complete a paper application. The paper application must be printed, completed, signed and returned. It cannot be signed electronically.

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.

Domestic Violence 

Helping victims of domestic violence rebuild their lives.

Behavioral Health

Trauma-informed therapy and substance use solutions.

Career Planning & Work Readiness

Career development and support for at-risk youth and adults.

Childcare & Tutoring

Affordable childcare with fun, age-appropriate programming

Payee Services

Assisting individuals with Social Security benefit management.

Human Services

Support, classes, adoption services, and SafeCare.

Juvenile Justice Supported Services

Services and support for teens referred by Polk County Juvenile Court.

What Services are Covered?  Birth control exams, Birth control counseling, Limited testing and treatment for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), Pelvic exams, Pap tests, Pregnancy tests, Birth control supplies, Voluntary sterilization, Emergency contraception, Ultrasounds (if medically necessary and related to birth control services), Yeast infection treatment.

WHAT IS FPP? Iowa offers a state Family Planning Program (FPP), which provides health coverage to individuals aged 12-54 with limited income. Benefits of this program include contraceptive services and supplies, tests and treatments for sexually transmitted diseases, routine preventive services related to family planning

Program Contact 1-800-338-8366 Medicaid Member Services

Food placed in backpacks for students in need for the weekend during the school year. Students are identified by school staff, administration, or through family application. Talk with your child's teacher or administration to sign up. PreK-8th grade.

Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) helps individuals and families meet basic needs, build stability, and work toward self-sufficiency. Services include food assistance, WIC, energy assistance, Head Start and Early Head Start, family support, maternal and child health services, dental programs, health insurance assistance, and home weatherization.

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 

Overview for School Staff Overivew for Parents/Caregivers

Promotes an innovative change in social work practice that is unique because it not only celebrates individuals who have overcome obstacles through change, recovery, and accountability, but also uses their skills to mentor families who are currently navigating through Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as their children are in foster or kinship care. Parent Partners demonstrate advocacy and effective communication while holding families accountable in meeting their case plan goals.

Postpartum Support Group: A free group focused on caregivers and their infant(s) newborn to one year of age, Baby weight checks, breast and bottle feeding guidance, professional and peer support, come and go setting, light refreshments provided. Meetings are on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month in the Tomasek Conference Room from 5-6:30 PM. For information call 641-236-2905.

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.

The Village Closet is a way to support expectant mothers, caregivers, grandparents, and foster parents in need throughout their pregnancy and/or the first year of a child’s life with a range of free items, including diapers, bottles, car seats, clothes, toys, breastfeeding items and more.
To access the Village Closet, individuals must schedule an appointment by email or phone.

 

The Village Closet is a way to support expectant mothers, caregivers, grandparents, and foster parents in need throughout their pregnancy and/or the first year of a child’s life with a range of free items, including diapers, bottles, car seats, clothes, toys, breastfeeding items and more.

To access the Village Closet, individuals must schedule an appointment by emailing dm_village_closet@unitypoint.org or calling (641) 236-2385, option 3.