02182026_Press Release_Community Partners Invited to New Initiative to Improve Access to Assistance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 18, 2026
Contact: Black Hawk County Public Health
Phone: (319) 291-2413
publichealth@blackhawkcounty.iowa.gov
Community Partners Invited to New Initiative to Improve Access to Assistance
Families needing help in Black Hawk County will soon have new opportunities to find assistance in their own community. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) recently selected Black Hawk County Public Health as the lead organization for its new Thrive Iowa initiative in the county. To introduce the initiative, Black Hawk County Public Health, alongside Iowa HHS, are inviting local community organizations to take part in a collective impact meeting which will be held on Monday, March 2 in Waterloo.
Thrive Iowa is a community-based program that helps families move from crisis to stability by connecting them with local resources. The initiative uses the collective impact model, developed by Arkansas-based Restore Hope, to unite organizations around shared goals of improving family stability. Instead of navigating multiple disconnected services, families experience one coordinated system designed to meet their needs.
The goal of Thrive Iowa is to coordinate existing services in a community so that more individuals and families in crisis can become stable and ultimately reach a point where they can thrive.
“Collective impact is a structured way for government and community groups to work toward the same outcomes using shared data and measuring outcomes,” said Paul Chapman, Executive Director of Restore Hope.
Chapman helped start Restore Hope in 2015 as Arkansas was faced with an alarming crisis among young families and high incarceration rates. Through local partnerships, Arkansas communities were able to provide targeted support and guidance to families in need.
“Families in crisis often face overwhelming challenges,” said Kaitlin Emrich, Black Hawk County Public Health Director. “Thrive Iowa gives us a way to bring the many community resources we have together so families can get the help they need when they need it most. This is about building a stronger, more connected, and healthier Black Hawk County.”
The Collective Impact Meeting will be held at the Black Hawk County Veteran’s Affairs multi-purpose room, 1210 Idaho Street, Waterloo, IA 50703, on Monday, March 2, from 3 - 4:30 p.m. No registration is needed. The event will be facilitated by leadership from Black Hawk County Public Health, Iowa HHS, and Restore Hope.
Thrive Iowa is currently serving families in Black Hawk County as well as Fayette, Clayton, Lee, Madison, Van Buren, Buena Vista, Warren, Webster, Cass, and Henry counties. Iowa HHS aims to extend the program to additional counties across Iowa over the next two years.
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Black Hawk County Public Health exists to ensure that people in our community have equitable opportunities and resources to lead healthier, more fulfilling,and longer lives. Established in 1969, the health department's mission is to protect people in our community from health hazards, promote healthy behaviors, and prevent disease. Black Hawk County Public Health was accredited by theNational Public Health Accreditation Board in 2022. For more information about health department services visit the Black Hawk County Public Health website.