A family’s path from homelessness to a place of their own is offering a powerful example of what can happen when a community works together — and it’s the kind of change Thrive Iowa hopes to bring to more families in Buena Vista County.
The initiative officially launched Monday at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, bringing together about 125 educators, health care professionals, social service agencies, nonprofit organizations, government officials and community members around a shared goal: helping families move from crisis to long-term stability.
Thrive Iowa connects existing community resources through family navigators, coordinated care teams and a secure case management system called HopeHub. Rather than leaving families to navigate multiple agencies on their own, the approach helps providers coordinate services and work toward shared goals.
During yesterday’s event, Buena Vista County Coordinator Sarah Johnson reported that the initiative is currently serving 57 participants, with an average of five providers on each care team. The network includes 56 organizations and 118 providers.
Johnson said the number of participants identified as stably housed has increased from six at intake to 12. She also highlighted child care as an area where families continue to face significant challenges.
But behind those numbers is a story of progress.
Johnson shared the experience of Emily and her daughter, Nevaeh, who live in Alta and were among Thrive Iowa of Buena Vista County’s first families. Emily and Naveah were unable to attend yesterday’s event, but Johnson shared Emily’s words, noting the two were homeless before connecting with the program.
Johnson said Thrive Iowa helped them connect with resources and gave them encouragement as they worked through challenges. Today, they have their own home — a change Johnson said represents much more than having a roof over their heads.
Storm Lake Community School District Superintendent Dr. Stacey Cole said schools see firsthand how family circumstances affect children, making collaboration essential.
Cole said she supports the partnership because children in the community are experiencing harm, while adults trying to protect them sometimes struggle to get them the help they need.
Cole said schools cannot do this work alone. She hopes Thrive Iowa will help professionals identify gaps, communicate concerns and intervene before families reach a crisis point. The Storm Lake Community School District is serving as the backbone of Thrive Iowa of Buena Vista County.
Retired juvenile court judge Mary Timko delivered the event’s keynote address, drawing on her decades of experience working with children and families, including helping establish Buena Vista County’s family treatment court in 2009.
Timko said effective collaboration requires professionals to put aside personal interests and recognize that no single agency can meet every need.
Timko said coordinated support can address interconnected challenges such as substance use, mental health, transportation, employment and getting children to school.
Iowa Health and Human Services Division Director of Family Wellbeing and Protection Janée Harvey also emphasized prevention, describing Thrive Iowa as part of a broader effort to strengthen families and reduce the circumstances that can lead to children entering foster care.
Paul Chapman, executive director of Restore Hope, explained how the model brings community partners together around shared goals, coordinated services and measurable outcomes. The approach originated in Arkansas and is now being implemented in Iowa communities.
Johnson closed the launch with a call for organizations and individuals to get involved by sharing expertise, building relationships, referring families and helping address unmet needs. She stressed that Monday’s event was not the finish line, but the beginning of a communitywide commitment to action.
Families can learn more or submit a referral through HopeHub at app.hopehub.io/. Community organizations, businesses, faith groups and other interested residents can also contact Johnson at sjohnson2@slcsd.org or 712-732-6698 about joining the Thrive Iowa network.
