Helping hands around Des Moines - an update

In January 2008 I published a list of support groups and helping agencies around Des Moines. Six months later it seems like a good time to update the list and repair broken and altered links.

Iowa 2-1-1 is an extensive searchable information and referral database for health and social service and funded by the Iowa Department of Human Services.

Very much on the mind of every Iowan in July 2008 are flood recovery and the services available.

Federal support services for flooded states are listed on the FEMA site including the application procedures.

Applications can be made on-line or by phone. Call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or for TTY 1-800-462-7585.

The specific types of assistance are more than you might imagine. The local FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at Harding Middle School in Des Moines is closed now but on-line and phone are still available. Many other DRCs are still open in other parts of the state.

Information for the State of Iowa’s 2008 Flood Resource Center includes links.

The Red Cross provides and has provided direct and immediate assistance, and

United Way of Central Iowa as well.

AmeriCorps is seeking summer 200 summer associates and 30 VISTAs to provide direct and immediate assistance to those trying to get back into their homes including people in Central Iowa.

Meeting Professional International lists multiple agencies collecting funds for flood relief including the local groups

• Embrace Iowa
• The Catholic Diocese of Des Moines which is coordinating volunteers and direct assistance and
• The Iowa Hospital Association collecting funds for disaster relief for Iowa hospital employees.

So much help is needed for this unparalleled 2008 flood.

Both planned and unplanned pregnancy are life changing events. Here are some of Des Moines’ options for family planning, pregnancy, birth and adoption:

Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa provides education and services related to birth control, pregnancy and sexual health.

A New Beginning is a Catholic Charities organization providing free pregnancy options counseling.

Ruth Harbor is a Christ-centered home for young women dealing with unplanned pregnancy.

Mercy Medical Center has an easily navigable, free education site called Pregnancy Health Center with multiple layers of very specific and helpful information. It’s a gold mine. Mercy’s Women and Infants’ Center site can also lead you to tours and medical help.

Iowa Health offers a number of support groups, classes and instruction on pregnancy, childbirth and infant care, many free of charge.

For a families in varying degrees of distress there are many options.

Children & Families of Iowa provides a variety of services in support of distressed families including foster care and adoptions, family-centered counseling, substance abuse programs for teens, child care programs and referrals, and other therapies.

Lutheran Services in Iowa has services available for adoption, early childhood, home healthcare, refugee resettlement, residential treatment, disability services, and family services. Some of these services are offered jointly with Catholic Charities.

The Family Violence Center provides emergency safe shelter and support for victims of domestic violence and their children.

Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Services offers crisis intervention and ongoing support services to victims of violent crimes.

On a happier note for a families operating with normal stresses there are other options.

Parenting Monthly is a site linking local and national websites for everything from family communication, education, public television, YMCA, Young Women’s Resource Center, Visiting Nurse Services, resources for dads, and many other topics. Contacts but no links for 27 other local groups are found elsewhere.

The La Leche League of Des Moines Iowa helps mothers and mothers-to-be with all aspects of breastfeeding.

Young women in their adolescent transition are supported in particular by the Young Women’s Resource Center.

Six months ago high energy costs associated with transportation were not taking such a large bite out of our food budget. The Des Moines area has services for all families and for families with more pressing needs. Everyone can participate in the first of these programs.

Angel Food Ministries is a Georgia based food ministry dedicated to relief of hunger throughout the United States. The local group works from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and is available to everyone, not just those in need.

For those with greater need the Des Moines Area Religious Council has food pantries at sites all across the metro.

The City of Des Moines has a site linking the food pantries and listing other low-income services.

The stress of a homeless individual or family in Des Moines in any season would be hard for any of us to imagine. Des Moines has shelters.

Hope Ministries is a Christ-centered ministry for homeless, hungry, and hurting. They provide food, shelter, clothes and furnishings for men, women and children, as well as an addiction recovery center and transitional living services.

Central Iowa Shelter and Services once called Churches United Shelter provides shelter services for homeless adults.

For families The Home Connections sponsors transitional housing and supportive services for homeless families.

The New Directions Shelter gives emergency shelter for homeless women with children.

St. Joseph Emergency Family Center one of the arms of Catholic Charities provides emergency shelter for up to five homeless families with each family living together.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides a host of programs nationally including thrift stores providing clothing and household items. The local St. Vincent de Paul thrift store is found at 1426 6th Avenue.

Youth Emergency Services & Services provides emergency shelter for youths 10-17, crisis nursery and counseling.

In the longer term other groups support families in their quest for stable housing.

Refugee Resettlement Services is a joint venture of Catholic Charities and Lutheran Social Services with a mission to resettle refugees and their families.

Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity is our branch of the international non-profit Christian housing ministry founded in 1976 and providing home ownership opportunities for qualified low-income families. Habitat for Humanity has an interesting history. Habitat’s ReStore in Des Moines sells new and used home improvement items to the public at a discount with proceeds supporting Habitat’s mission.

Home, Inc. is a non-profit organization helping low income families improve their housing situations by counseling, advocacy and legal assistance directed toward ownership or renting.

Iowa ACORN is part of a national organization called Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. Goals include fair and affordable housing, elimination of predatory lending practices, and reform of utility service termination practices. Iowa ACORN is located at 2000 Walker St., Suite L and their phone number is 263-4315.

As sincere and well-intentioned as we all might be, sometimes we manage to get into trouble anyway. Imagine! Here are several groups for people dealing with addiction. The following 4 groups are financially self-supporting and decline outside contributions.

Alcoholics Anonymous is a site featuring local contacts and meeting schedules for those desiring a 12 Step approach to recovery from alcoholism.

Al-Anon and Al-Ateen is a site with local contacts and meeting schedules for families desiring a 12 Step approach to dealing with alcoholism in a family member or friend.

Overeaters Anonymous is a site with local contacts, meeting schedules, and information for those desiring a 12 Step approach to recovery from overeating.

Gamblers Anonymous is a site with a meeting schedule for those desiring a 12 Step approach to recovery from gambling addiction.

Other groups and programs assist with addiction problems.

The Iowa Gambling Prevention and Treatment Program is a program for problem gamblers offered through the State of Iowa Department of Public Health.

Teen Challenge of the Midlands is a Christ-based approach to curing additions in those 18 and older. You can see the facility on the hill looking south as you pass by Colfax on I-80.

House of Mercy is the Mercy Hospital-based transitional housing and clinical services for parenting women with addiction.

In the area of mental health

NAMI, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill has an Iowa Branch with support groups, classes, speakers, and many other resources.

Suicide.org is dedicated to suicide prevention, awareness and support in Iowa and Des Moines while the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to the issues surrounding suicide.

In case you hadn’t noticed, there is no getting around this aging business.

Be sure to check out Aging Resources of Central Iowa, a comprehensive set of links and lists of resources available to older Iowans. It is a wonderful site. It lists hundreds of resources and activities supporting the normal process of aging. Some may need help searching for services since there are lots of options and drop down menus.

For those encountering difficulty with two common disorders of age there are Alzheimer’s support groups and educational resources are available through the Greater Iowa Chapter of alzheimer’s association.

Parkinsonism support is available through American Parkinson Disease Association.

Are you looking for a support group or education on a specific disease or condition?

ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease? This support group is for those affect by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and includes links to the national website.

Amanda the Panda works to restore grieving children and families back into the mainstream of their lives supported, validated, encouraged and empowered to go on.

The Source offers support and contacts for families affected by autism, Asperger’s syndrome, and pervasive development disorders.

The Iowa Department for the Blind has a website.

Cancer is behind heart disease as the primary disease of Americans but here is an excellent list of online resources and links about cancer from Mercy Medical.

The American Cancer Society has a local office and phone (8364 Hickman Ste D, (515)253-0147) along with regular activities and a limited local website.

Celiac disease is an under-diagnosed autoimmune disorder caused by exposure to a gluten protein found in wheat. If you have it, you appreciate help.  The Celiac Sprue Association in Iowa  was kind enough to write following my first “helping groups” post in January 2008. Our local association even has a list of restaurants and stores that are gluten free friendly. The national Celiac Sprue Association has a site as well.

Another celiac disease site provides on-line support for people with celiac disease and a local support chapter of R.O.C.K. - Raising Our Celia Kids. Des Moines does not have a chapter in the Celiac Disease Foundation.

For cerebral palsy the State of Iowa with its site 4 My Child has resources available to families affected by cerebral palsy and many other disabilites.

Childserve in Johnston serves children with special health needs.

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America shows Iowa and Des Moines activities and help for patients and families of those with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and is dedicated to finding a cure for both.

The Defeat Diabetes Foundation, Inc. is a health system sponsored site for education, services, and support for diabetics and families.

Up with Down is a Des Moines group affiliated with the National Down Syndrome Society.

Epilepsy Foundation supports those dealing with the neurological condition sometimes referred to as seizure disorder. Look for support and programs in the Des Moines area or for more general information in the wider area of Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome lists resources available in Iowa for families affected by fetal alcohol syndrome.

Unfortunately there are no fibromyalgia support groups with web presence within 100 miles of Des Moines; however, Mercy Medical has an excellent fibromyalgia educational site.

The Huntington’s Disease Society of America seeks to improve the lives of people with Huntington’s disease and their families. They meet locally.

Iowa Health offers a number of support groups, many free of charge including

• ABC (After Breast Cancer)
• Colorectal Cancer Support Group
• Diabetes Support Group
• Live Well
• Ostomy Support Group
• Others are listed on a general page

Iowa Lyme Disease Network is an educational resource for medical providers and the public.

American Lung Association of Iowa has support groups and information for those affected by a variety of abnormal lung conditions.

Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. has an email address to the local chapter and access to information about lupus.

You can also find a good list of links to community health charities including many already cited.

Mercy Medical Center has a variety of risk prevention programs available.

The Community Partners of the United Way of Central Iowa provides an interesting list of links to community partners, some of which might be useful.

Don’t forget this site. Iowa 2-1-1 is an extensive searchable information and referral database for health and social service and funded by the Iowa Department of Human Services.

Be pleased and proud that so much help is available in our community.

Photo by Flickr by Jason Hudson.

Guest Writer: James G. Lindberg (Jim) is the Purple Wren’s sweetie and is a visiting chemistry professor at Grinnell College and retired from Drake University.