We pull the threads between the health and social service systems tight to ensure that no one falls through the gaps and no one is left to struggle on their own. And we reinforce and expand the fabric that connects and cares for us all.

As people become more deeply woven into the community’s social fabric, they are wrapped into a support system that shelters them from life’s storms and provides stability to move forward with dignity and hope.

Who needs extra care and support?

We all inevitably face hard times, but some people in our community are coping with more difficult circumstances. For example:  

• A pregnant teenager who wants to be a good mom and finish her education

• A refugee family with limited English skills trying to secure housing and health care

• A new mother suffering from postpartum depression

• A parent providing full-time support to a child with disabilities

• An adult forced to leave their job due to chronic pain

• A widowed senior struggling with grief and deteriorating health

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Why can’t family and friends serve as a support network?

For nearly two centuries, Iowans have shown up for one another, and that proud tradition still lives on today.

Unfortunately, providing care and support to our friends, family, and co-workers is not as easy as it was a century ago. Most of us don’t live down the street from our loved ones. Other responsibilities get in the way, and sometimes we simply don’t know how best to help.

Dropping off a casserole or sending a card are still signs of care and comfort, but they can't help someone navigate complex systems to find appropriate health care or ensure that a child has everything they need for a healthy start.

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Why do some people need more support than others?

The circumstances people face are often created — or made worse — by policies and systems designed to advantage some groups of people, while creating severe barriers for others.

For example, discriminatory lending policies have historically prevented people of color from buying a home, a key to stability and building wealth. Redlining practices have forced families of color into parts of the city that lack public investment and have limited job opportunities, fewer green spaces, lower-quality housing, and underfunded schools.

These conditions not only harm people’s health and limit their ability to thrive; they also make it far more challenging to work through an unexpected crisis.

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What kind of challenges are people in your programs facing?

Any unexpected situation — even a blessing like a baby — comes with complications. These unfamiliar challenges are even more difficult to navigate if:

• You don’t have reliable transportation.

• You don’t have family or close friends nearby.

• You don’t have the financial resources to pay for extra help.

• You don’t speak English fluently.

• The services you need are simply not available.

Situations like these can spiral into persistent struggle and stress that further harm people’s health and their ability to move forward in their lives.

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Why do many of your programs focus on new parents?

Parents with young children are at an especially vulnerable stage of life. While doing the hard work of raising their kids during the most critical years of development, they often struggle with multiple stressors that can take a toll on the entire family’s well-being. This period is even more difficult for parents lacking sufficient resources or support. Parents have the best of intentions for themselves and their children, but they can’t do it all on their own. That’s where EveryStep comes in.

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How does EveryStep’s work make a difference for everyone in Iowa?

By patching gaps in the support network and working to remove unnecessary barriers, EveryStep helps ensure that everyone in Iowa has the opportunity to thrive within flourishing communities.

When all Iowans have the care and support they need to thrive, our entire state prospers now and in the future. Healthy families with solid foundations are less likely to rely on costly interventions when challenges occur. Parents and caregivers can more fully contribute to their work and communities. Kids are more likely to succeed in school and in life.

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What kind of state is EveryStep working to create?

Everything we do is about making sure that all Iowans:

• Can access care and support services when they need them, regardless of their ability to pay.

• Can navigate complicated systems to receive health care and social services.

• Have the resources and knowledge to improve their well-being and create nurturing homes for their children.

• Are treated with dignity and respect while receiving health care and social services.

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What makes EveryStep unique in the nonprofit sector?

Nearly all our services are one-on-one personal interactions with skilled providers. Our staff work with empathy and energy, striving to create an authentic human connection with each person they support.

Here’s why our approach stands out:

• We’re driven by a single purpose — to care for people and connect them with support at every step of their journey.

• Our programs have led to real-life results for thousands of Iowans who are now leading more stable, fulfilling lives.

• We’re recognized experts at what we do — with decades of experience offering high-quality care and support to address complex challenges.

• We are a trusted leader. Health care providers, government agencies, and other nonprofits can turn to our well-known programs when they need help with their most complex cases.  

• We take advantage of efficiencies of scale, so that we can invest every possible dollar into our work.

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What are some examples of the programs supported by a gift to the Threads of Hope campaign?

As grants and other traditional funding sources continue to shrink, EveryStep needs community support to sustain and grow our vital programs.

• Our Nine2Thrive and 1st Five programs partner with health care providers to help pregnant individuals and families with young children access additional services that reduce stress, promote well-being, and address developmental delays.

• Our Nurse-Family Partnership and Community Home Visitation programs provide pregnant and parenting women education, screenings, and referrals during at-home nursing visits.

• The Child Care Nurse Consultant program provides on-site consultation and training to early education centers and child care providers on issues related to health and safety.

• Our Interpretation program ensures that individuals who don’t speak English can access these programs and other services in the community with the same level of care and support.  

• Our Share the Joy program provides basic necessities, household supplies, and some meaningful gifts to families in need during the holidays.

• The Healthy Homes Iowa initiative provides home health checks for senior safety and asthma triggers, as well as connections to mitigation solutions.

• The Healthy Start & Empowerment Projects provide free, personalized, one-on-one education and health screenings for pregnant and postpartum women in Polk County.

• Our Stork’s Nest and Family Nest incentive programs reward healthy pregnancy and parenting activities with “points” that can be redeemed at our Stork’s Nest store for needed baby supplies and household items.

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What kind of impact will my donation have?

As one of the largest nonprofits in the state, we can maximize every dollar we receive. Your gift will:  

• Invest in compassionate professionals who provide expert care and personalized support.

• Have an immediate impact — meeting people’s urgent needs in times of crisis and during difficult transitions.

• Grow its impact over time — by preventing more expensive challenges later on and giving people the tools and skills to change the trajectory of their family’s life.

• Support innovative programs that prioritize people, not profit, and that coordinate with other agencies to increase impact across the community.

• Benefit your entire community by relieving overburdened systems and helping people live independent, productive lives that contribute to the state’s prosperity.

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