Des Moines, Iowa – The Fort Dodge office of Children & Families of Iowa (CFI) recently began offering two new services for families in a crisis situation and in need of immediate services.
The new Crisis Child Care Service will provide free emergency child care to families experiencing a crisis and have children 0-12 years of age. Child care is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trained and qualified providers will help families who find themselves in unexpectedly stressful or emergency situations which could include medical crisis, death in the family, housing crisis (including homelessness) or arrest.
The second service, Crisis Intervention, employs professional counselors to assist families and individuals in resolving immediate crisis situations, helping them take the first step toward regaining control of their lives. This community-based service has a focus on families with children 0-18 years of age, providing free, accessible resources for those who may be reluctant to seek assistance for issues such as family conflict, parental concerns, behavioral issues, depression and suicide prevention.
“The addition of these services will help many families who unexpectedly find themselves in crisis situations and don’t have anywhere else to turn,” says Gloria Gray, Children & Families of Iowa Executive Director. “It is our hope that by offering these services free of charge, we will keep children safe when their families are going through an extremely stressful time.”
Both services are free for families residing in Calhoun, Pocahontas, Webster, Hamilton, Humboldt and Wright Counties. Services may be accessed by calling [phone](515) 573-2193[/phone]. Phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. CFI offers follow-up services to connect families with community resources and other support. These programs are funded in part by Iowa’s Child Welfare Decategorization Program and the Iowa Department of Human Service.
