Community Partners Invited to Celebrate Black Hawk County Thrive Iowa Launch

Black Hawk County Public Health is inviting community organizations, leaders, service providers, and elected officials to join them for the official launch of the local Thrive Iowa initiative on Thursday, June 25. The event will share the progress made so far, discuss next steps, and celebrate how community partners are working together to better support families and individuals in need across the county. The launch will take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Deery Center in the EPI Building, 3675 University Avenue in Waterloo. No registration is needed, and light refreshments will be available.

In late 2025,the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services selected Black Hawk County Public Health as the lead organization for its Thrive Iowa initiative within Black Hawk County. Thrive Iowa brings existing services together into one coordinated system. This helps people and families access the resources they need more quickly and easily. The long-term goal is to help families become more stable and reach a place where they can thrive.

“The passion from our partners has been incredible,” said Liz Crane, Black Hawk County Thrive Iowa Coordinator. “Black Hawk County is full of organizations and people who are working hard to serve our community, and I’m excited about the work we’re doing together and the impact we’re able to make.”

The initiative was first introduced to local partners in early March during a well-attended kickoff meeting. Since then, community partners have worked together to map the resources already available, find gaps in services, and begin building the program’s case management database, called HopeHub. This secure system will help connect people to the many different types of support in the community.

In late May, Thrive Iowa held its first Community Alliance meeting. A panel of experts in childcare, food access, housing, home visiting, and the justice system talked about the challenges families face when they are looking for help. They also shared ideas on how to strengthen support across the county.

These ongoing conversations will help bring together the work already happening across the county and build stronger support for individuals in 13 key areas of well‑being: housing, recovery, employment, transportation, education, mental and physical health, safety, dental care, financial stability, food access, childcare, and legal assistance.

Enrollment for Thrive Iowa is now open. People can enroll if they are pregnant or if they area parent or caretaker of a related child under the age of 18. They must live in Iowa, be a U.S. citizen or legal resident, and have a household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, this means earning up to $66,000 a year.

People can enroll by calling the Black Hawk County Thrive Iowa initiative at (319) 292-2202 or by completing a referral online through the HopeHub website. Once referred, a Thrive navigator works with the person to build a personal plan and connect them to local resources.

More information on the local Thrive Iowa initiative can be found on the Black Hawk County Public Health website.

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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 the National Public Health Accreditation Board in 2022. For more information about health department services visit the Black Hawk County Public Health website.

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