Caregiver Support

The ASK Each Other Mentor Network

The ASK Each Other Mentor Network is a group of trained caregivers who understand what it’s like to raise a child with a disability. They want to share their experiences to help other caregivers. You can be matched with a mentor based on your child’s diagnosis or similar life situations (e.g., transitioning to adulthood, having more than one diagnosis, supporting siblings, or being a single parent). Our mentors are there to help you with emotional support, advice, and information.

Join the ASK Each Other Mentor Network

You Are Not Alone: Information for Parents

This is a great resource for parents who have recently learned that their child has a disability. It is written from the personal perspective of a parent who has shared this experience and all that goes with it.

Learn more from Parent Center Hub

Medical Traumatic Stress

Traumatic stress symptoms are common after a serious illness, injury, or hospitalization. Even though it is your child who is ill or injured, your whole family can be affected. It’s normal for you, as a parent, to feel overwhelmed or unprepared to help your child (or yourself) cope.

Learn more from the Trauma Informed Care Project

About Foster Squad Iowa

Giving a child a home is a remarkable gift. The Foster SQUAD is here to provide resources to Polk County foster families as they care for our community's most vulnerable children.

Learn more from Foster Squad Iowa

Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association

For over 40 years, the Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association (IFAPA) has been a voice for Iowa's foster and adoptive children through the support it provides to the parents of these children. In 1973, a group of foster parents joined together to create a membership organization for foster and adoptive families. IFAPA was originally operated by these volunteer foster and adoptive parents, but because of the successful growth of the organization, staff were hired to continue with IFAPA's mission.

Check out the IFAPA Website

Iowa Child Care Resource and Referral

CCR&R is available to assist families in selecting child care providers who best meet the needs of a child and their family. Child Care Consultants provide on-site consultation to licensed preschools, centers, nonregistered home providers and Child Development Home providers.

Learn more from CCR&R

Child Care Provider Search

If you enter a ZIP code or an address and city the search will locate providers within a certain distance of that ZIP code or address. You can specify the distance in the "Select Distance" dropdown.

Learn more from Iowa HHS

Family and Medical Leave Act An Overview for Families

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a 1993 federal law. It requires covered employers to give eligible employees time off work, without penalty, for specified family and medical reasons. The stated purposes of the law: balance the demands of the workplace with the needs of families; promote stability and economic security of families and promote national interests in preserving family integrity. Who is covered by FMLA? The FMLA only applies to employers and employees that meet certain criteria. If an employer meets the criteria they are called “covered” employers. Not all employers are covered and not all employees are eligible. The following chart shows the FMLA criteria for covered employers and eligible employees.

Read the ASK Resource PDF

FMLA (Family & Medical Leave Act)

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federally mandated program that entitles eligible employees of covered employers to un-paid, job-protected leave for specified family, medical and military reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave. Eligible State of Iowa employees are entitled to up to 12 work weeks of FMLA leave in a fiscal year (up to 26 weeks for Military Caregiver Leave in a single 12-month period).

Learn more from the Iowa Department of Administrative Services