Fatherhood

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services(Iowa HHS) receives federal funds for services to facilitate access and visitation for noncustodial parents. These funds are designed to increase compliance with the child access provisions of court orders, including but not limited to providing neutral exchange sites, visitation counseling, and mediation services. Child Support Services has contracted with the following community provider to provide these services.

Kids First Law Center – Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Services available to any Iowa parents.

July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2027

Services include facilitating parents’ access to and visitation with their children by providing virtual or in-person joint parenting sessions at no cost to any Iowa parent.  Sessions are designed to help parents: find common ground, reduce conflict, improve communication & design a communication plan, resolve parenting disputes, and craft parenting plans. Kids First also serves as a neutral exchange location for parents.

For more information, call Kids First at (319) 365-5437 or visit Kids First website.

Iowa Health and Human Services developed the Promoting Opportunities for Parents Program (POPP) to assist parents in overcoming barriers that interfere with meeting their obligations to their children. Child Support Services (CSS) established this program to partner with community providers that offer parenting or fatherhood classes and employment resources.  CSS can offer incentives for participation in approved community projects. Participants receive support and education to improve their emotional, physical, and financial responsibilities toward their children. Current community partners include:
 

Children & Families of Iowa

Serving Jasper, Wapello, and Jefferson Counties (and all of southeastern Iowa)

July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026

• Children & Families of Iowa (CFI) is a non-profit agency, providing services across the state of Iowa.  Services focus on behavioral health for all ages, career readiness for teens and young adults, childcare services, domestic violence services, and supporting families and individuals involved with the Department of Human Services and Juvenile Court.  CFI uses the 24/7 Dad, Understanding Dads for Moms, and Caring Dads curriculums to promote responsible parenting and personal development.
• For more information, contact:
  Bradley Pothoven (641) 455-4359
  bradleyp@cfiowa.org

Evelyn K. Davis Center

Serving Polk and surrounding counties.

July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 

• Evelyn K. Davis (EKD) provides opportunities for all parents in a facilitated, peer-driven, small group format that will cover discipline, communication, formative relationships, father-mother partnership, physical and emotional development, and social modeling.
• For more information, contact:
  Charles Zanders (515) 697-1475
  Cwzanders1@dmacc.edu

St. Vincent de Paul 

Serving Polk and surrounding counties.

July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026

• St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) of Des Moines is a trusted and established nonprofit organization committed to addressing the complex needs of individuals and families facing poverty, unemployment, and other barriers to stability.
• For more information, contact:
  Joy Esposito (515) 282-8327 ext. 150
  joy.esposito@svdpdsm.org 

National Center for Fathering

The National Center for Fathering (Fathers.com) is a nonprofit educational organization that provides research-based training and resources so that men are equipped to address their children's needs.  Their goal is to reverse the cultural trend toward fatherlessness by helping every dad learn how to be a father.

National Fatherhood Initiative 

The National Fatherhood Initiative is focused on providing the very best fatherhood resources and training to community-based, military, and corrections organizations across the county.  NFI also continues to be a leading voice for responsible fatherhood, with a new emphasis on using social media and blogging to educate the public about the importance of involved, responsible, and committed fatherhood.

The Verywell Family has a wide variety of parenting topics. They provide access to information for parents, everything from developmental milestones to recipes for snacks. It also provides links to many other topics.

Verywell Family