Stories

Mid-Iowa Health Foundation is proud to partner and support the work highlighted here that is creating equitable opportunities for central Iowans to live healthy lives. At times, we are a funder. At other times, we are a convener, thought-partner, or cheerleader. We hope these stories inspire you, like they've inspired us, to imagine innovative, system-change approaches for addressing the social determinants of health and supporting thriving communities.

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Bridging Gaps: The Crucial Role of Training Medical Students in Culturally Responsive Care

Des Moines University expands current educational offerings related to providing culturally and socially responsive care.

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Creating Space for Change

Advocates connect through a shared commitment to improve health outcomes.

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Centering People in Community Planning

Amal Barre's research and advocacy efforts address housing instability and the sense of belonging in the community.

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Launching the Basic Income Pilot with Community

How UpLift's collaboration with many partners led to greater impact

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Amplifying Philanthropy’s Impact

Iowa funders are making shifts to center communities and advance equity.

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Healthy Homes Redefines Community Collaboration

Working together to improve housing is leading to better health outcomes.

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A Food is Medicine Approach to Health Care

An incentive program has provided a model for increasing access to nutritious foods and improving health outcomes.

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Cultivating the Soil for Culturally Responsive Health Care

DMU is transforming the way health sciences education is delivered.

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Zeroing in on Health Needs

A needs assessment of Oakridge Neighborhood residents is informing ways to improve health and well-being

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Doula Care Becomes Essential Health Care

An Iowa Doula Project is expanding community-based health care to improve Black maternal health outcomes.

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Improving Health through Community Advocacy

How AMOS engaged hundreds of advocates to push for a children's mental health crisis response system

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Media's Role in Improving Health

How support to Iowa Public Radio is building awareness of factors that influence well-being

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Latinx Project Tells Story of Strength and Opportunity

New report highlights central Iowa Latinos contributions and disparities and elevates Latinx leaders

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Improving Health through Social Supports

MercyOne's community health worker model improves outcomes for families.

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Re-Imagining How Iowa's Systems Work Together to Best Serve Families

The Vision Council has led conversations on how Iowa's families and children can be safe, secure, healthy, and well in our communities.

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Champions for Change: A Collective Commitment to Children's Health

Outcomes from Mid-Iowa Health Foundation's HealthConnect Fellowship, October 2019-June 2021

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Elevating the Latinx Community

How nonprofit leaders brought attention to the Latinx community and built new systems of support during the pandemic

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Central Iowa Youth Drive Change for Better Health

uVoice high school students commit to learning about and addressing issues, including vaping and racial justice, in central Iowa.

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The Dream Cube: Art for Social Impact

The Dream Cube, a monolithic structure constructed of pillows piled 8-feet high, popped up in downtown Des Moines late last fall. The provocative piece sparked conversations about the potential of our youth—if they have a safe place to dream.

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How Youth Are Driving Community Efforts to End Homelessness

dsm Magazine features a unique collaboration that is engaging youth who’ve experienced homelessness in identifying new solutions to address this issue in central Iowa.

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Protecting Those Who Protect Our Kids

Iowa ACEs 360 shares this story about how supervisors in the Polk County Dept. of Human Services’ Child Welfare Division are addressing trauma in their workforce.

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A New Approach to Supporting Youth in Juvenile Detention

Teenagers in jumpsuits lying on yoga mats, their eyes closed, their bodies still. This is the image Megan Hoxhalli describes as remarkable for juvenile detention, a place where youth arrive shaken, dysregulated, and scared about their future.

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HealthConnect Blog

Hear from our community about how we can address systemic barriers to health.

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Explore our library to deepen your knowledge of challenges and opportunities for improving well-being.

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