Community Outreach Program/
Spanish Language Counseling  
The goal of the Hispanic Community Outreach Spanish-Language Counseling Program is to make affordable, high quality, culturally-competent first language counseling services readily available to the most vulnerable (uninsured, low-income) Spanish-speaking Latino immigrant residents of Polk and Dallas Counties by 1) providing access to mental health services regardless of their financial situation and 2) providing outreach and information to consumers about the available bilingual mental health services.

Community Health Clinic  
In partnership with Primary Health Care, Central Iowa Shelter & Services will be operating a health clinic on-site at the new shelter opening in the fall of 2012.  This medical clinic will serve shelter clients and uninsured and under-insured individuals with preventative and urgent care.  Its location along the south side of the downtown corridor will provide basic health services in an area easily accessible by public transportation or within walking distance of low-income housing.

To assist teens dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues, CFI will provide preventive and treatment services through Cornerstone Recovery. CFI provides a holistic approach that addresses the cognitive, emotional and healthy decision-making skills of the adolescent. This program has the reputation for being progressive in its ability to implement evidence-based therapeutic approaches to meet the needs of adolescents.

The Annual Back-to-School Health Fair is designed to assist families living in poverty prepare their children for the new school year. Students receive school and sports physicals, vision, dental, and lead poison screenings, school supplies, and clothing in preparation to begin school and encourage academic success throughout the school year.

GIRLSTRONG! is a health and wellness program to be delivered to over 500 girls grades 5-8 at 28 community sites hosting Chrysalis After-School programs. Delivering nutrition, fitness, positive body image, and healthy lifestyle education, GIRLSTRONG! intends to ensure development of lifelong behaviors leading to healthy weight, positive body image, appropriate choices, and prevention of risk factors leading to poor health and chronic disease. Program staff training and involvement of parents is included in program activities.

The program goal is to improve the oral health of children in this community by providing an array of dental services on-site in area schools. Specifically, the program will provide oral health education, screenings, and referrals in 48 pre-school sites, 36 elementary schools, and 8 middle schools. Additionally, the program will provide fluoride varnish applications in the pre-school sites and dental treatment services in the elementary and middle schools in the Smile Squad Mobile Dental Clinic.

C.O.O.L. Assistance
(Children Overcoming the Obstacles of Life)  
To improve access to mental health counseling for the increasing number of children and adolescents from uninsured, underinsured, lower-income families by subsidizing the cost of counseling with C.O.O.L. assistance. To increase the educational readiness, emotional maturity, and social success of children in our community by making hope and healing through counseling affordable to all. To help youth with physical, emotional, or mental challenges by making the unique approach of C.O.O.L. counseling accessible and affordable.

Youth will change their attitudes and behaviors related to underage use of alcohol and marijuana. Youth formerly arrested for possession of alcohol and small amounts of marijuana/paraphernalia will be given an opportunity to examine their decision-making attitudes and behaviors and in a restorative justice setting with parents, other youth and adults, to identify the harms their offense has caused to themselves, their families and the community, as well as specific means to repair each harm.

Access to Quality Care through a
Stable Direct Care Workforce  
Improve access to health and long term care by ensuring a stable direct care workforce. Iowa faces a severe and growing "Care Gap" -- the stark difference between the declining supply of and the growing demand for direct care workers (DCWs).  By 2018, Iowa will need an additional 12,000 DCWs.  In human terms, this means that Iowans who need care and support for the most critical and personal daily tasks -- such as bathing, dressing, using the toilet, eating, and monitoring medications -- will not receive it.  The following strategies will address the "Care Gap":  1) Increase DCWs' access to information about health care safety net and asset-building programs; and 2) Increase awareness about Iowa's "Care Gap".

Man Up
The "Man Up" program will teach and promote responsibility, reinforce positive behavior and develop character in adolescent males.  The journey that young men between the ages of 13 - 18 will face as they enter into adulthood is challenging, requiring adolescent males to understand and manage many issues and transitions.

Referral Coordination Pilot
To provide quality, coordinated care to our patients by establishing a comprehensive referral tracking process.  This process will help ensure that patients are able to complete their referral as well as enhance communication among different service providers in the community.

To facilitate maternal/child well-being and decrease the incidences of low birth weight, premature births and infant mortality among pregnant young women ages 12-21 in greater Des Moines by offering education and support services focused on proper prenatal care, childbirth, initial bonding and breastfeeding initiation.

The overall goal of services are to: 1) provide immediate crisis stabilization and assessment, 2) ensure safety by allowing youth access to emergency shelter, 3) construct service plans and provide counseling to help resolve youth and family problems, 4) reunify families whenever possible and appropriate, 5) provide ongoing counseling services to maintain placement in the home, and 6) prevent abuse and divert children from involvement with the Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems.