Southwest Iowa Home Visiting Program Supports Families

Free home visits help kids reach milestones and give moms peace of mind

Apr. 20, 2026 at 10:09am

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An abstract, out-of-focus photograph depicting a warm, intimate home interior scene with a mother and child playing together, their forms and features obscured in soft, diffused light and color.A home visiting program in southwest Iowa is helping families connect with crucial early childhood support and resources, fostering stronger bonds between parents and their children.Council Bluffs Today

A home visiting program in southwest Iowa, run by the Child and Family Resource Network, is providing free support to families by sending parent educators to visit homes and ensure children are reaching developmental milestones. The visits include fun activities and set learning goals, while also connecting families to additional resources, relieving the pressure many modern parents feel.

Why it matters

Access to early childhood support and resources can make a significant difference in a child's development and a family's well-being. This home visiting program in southwest Iowa is helping to address that need in the community, setting families and their children up for long-term success.

The details

The Child and Family Resource Network coordinates home visits across nine counties in southwest Iowa. Parent educator Debbie Pope visits the Freed family twice a month, bringing fun activities and working to ensure the children are on track developmentally. If any issues are identified, the visits focus on getting the child the support they need. The visits also provide valuable guidance and resources for the parents, relieving the pressure many feel from social media expectations around parenting.

  • The Child and Family Resource Network has been providing home visits to the Freed family for about four years.
  • This story was published on April 20, 2026, during National Home Visiting Week.

The players

Debbie Pope

A parent educator and home visitor who works with families through the Child and Family Resource Network in southwest Iowa. She was recently nominated for Home Visitor of the Year.

Kathryn Freed

A mother in southwest Iowa who has been receiving home visits from Debbie Pope for about four years, finding the support invaluable in navigating modern parenting expectations.

Child and Family Resource Network

An organization that coordinates home visiting programs across nine counties in southwest Iowa, connecting families with parent educators and resources.

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What they’re saying

“They're always waiting at the door.”

— Debbie Pope, Parent Educator

“Yeah Miss Debbie comes twice a month to our house to do home visits. The girls love it because she always brings a fun activity for them.”

— Kathryn Freed, Mother

“The sooner you can get those things going in a child's life, the sooner they will be on target and ready for school.”

— Debbie Pope, Parent Educator

“As a mother nowadays you're on social media and you'll see, 'Oh do this with your kid or if you're not doing this you're not good enough or at this age they should be doing xyz.' But Miss Debbie kind of takes care of that for us.”

— Kathryn Freed, Mother

“I think it is one of the greatest honors that I've been given during my lifetime.”

— Debbie Pope, Parent Educator

What’s next

Debbie Pope plans to continue her home visits with families in southwest Iowa, while also expanding her outreach to provide more resources to new mothers in the region.

The takeaway

This home visiting program in southwest Iowa is making a meaningful difference in the lives of families, providing crucial early childhood support, developmental guidance, and a sense of community for parents navigating the challenges of modern parenting. The program's success highlights the importance of accessible, personalized resources for families.