Thriving Families Alliance

10/14/2026

10/12/2026

This short, engaging video explains how experiences and relationships shape the brain’s architecture and influence lifelong learning, health, and behavior.

The AFWI developed the video with considerable input from our partn...

10/08/2026

Brain development is community development

A child’s earliest experiences help shape the brain systems that support learning, relationships, behavior, and health.

That makes early childhood more than a family issue. It affects our schools, healthcare systems, workforce, and communities.

What we build around children today helps shape our communities tomorrow.

10/06/2026

Our latest e-newsletter is now available.

A child’s brain does not develop in isolation. It develops through relationships, experiences, and the environments that surround the child. When communities understand how development happens, they can make choices that support children and the adults who care for them.

Read more in this month’s newsletter, featuring our latest blog post, “Brain Science Matters: What Every Community Should Know.”

Brain Science Matters: What Every Community Should Know

09/30/2026

As September comes to a close, National Su***de Prevention Month ends, but our commitment to building strong, connected communities continues every day.

Throughout this month, we explored how hope, positive childhood experiences, protective factors, and peer support programs work together to protect our families and youth.

Su***de prevention does not rely on a single organization, program, or month on the calendar. It relies on the everyday efforts of parents, neighbors, educators, and community members who choose to stay engaged, check in on one another, and offer support when times get tough.

Here is how you can continue making a difference throughout the year:
• Stay connected: Keep checking in on your family members, friends, and neighbors.
• Get involved: Participate in local community education opportunities, parent groups, or volunteer efforts.
• Keep resources visible: Remind those around you that help is always available through the 988 Lifeline and our local family support networks.

Thank you for partnering with Thriving Families Alliance to create a region where every family has the tools, hope, and support to thrive.

***dePrevention

09/30/2026

Our Early Childhood Director, Jordan, and Child and Family Resource Network of Southwest Iowa Outreach Coordinator, Erika, represented Iowa on Capitol Hill Monday, ahead of the National Home Visiting Summit.
They connected with Congressional leaders for both the House and Senate to champion family support, parental mental health, literacy, and the critical need for strengthening resources supporting families and children in the first 2,000 days of life.
They highlighted the importance of early brain development, positive childhood experiences, and resilience, which if you have met Jordan and Erika, you know they are passionate about these topics.
Investing in our kids today builds stronger, thriving communities for tomorrow. We are so grateful to have dedicated leaders to share their passionate voice for families in Southwest Iowa!

09/29/2026

When we think about su***de prevention, we often focus on middle school, high school, and adulthood.

However, the groundwork for lifelong emotional resilience begins in the very first years of life.

Early childhood home visitation programs support new and expecting parents during critical stages of development. By partnering with families right in their homes, these programs provide practical guidance on child growth, positive discipline, and stress management.

How does early support connect to long-term prevention?
• Reduces parental isolation: Home visitors provide steady encouragement, connecting parents to local resources and community networks.
• Strengthens healthy attachment: Early positive bonds between parents and infants create a sense of safety and self-worth that lasts a lifetime.
• Builds coping skills early: Helping parents navigate early childhood challenges reduces household stress and fosters stable, nurturing home environments.

When children grow up in secure, supported homes, they develop the emotional tools needed to navigate adversity later in life.

Prevention starts from day one.

If you are expecting or have young children, you can connect with free local family support and home visiting programs by completing our quick sign-up form: https://www.childandfamilyresourcenetwork.org/form

Fill out this form and our caring team will help you to find the resources and support you need, coach you with parenting skills, and connect you with your own network of support.

09/24/2026

As parents and caregivers, we want to protect our children from harm, including mental health struggles and despair.

While the topic of youth su***de can feel overwhelming, prevention often begins with the small, consistent routines we build at home.

Research shows that strong, everyday family connections serve as one of the most powerful shields for a child's mental well-being.

Here are simple, meaningful ways to strengthen that connection:
• Share regular meals: Sitting down for dinner together, even a few nights a week, creates a reliable space to decompress and reconnect.
• Ask open-ended questions: Move beyond "How was school?" to questions like "What was the best part of your day?" or "Was anything stressful today?"
• Listen without judgment: When kids share difficult feelings, resist the urge to dismiss them or jump straight to advice. Validate their experience so they know home is a safe place to be honest.
• Create screen-free one-on-one time: Even 10 minutes of undivided attention playing a game, going for a walk, or driving together reinforces that they are valued.

When children feel seen, heard, and supported at home, they are far more likely to come to parents when life feels too heavy to carry alone.

09/23/2026

Reminder: Registration is open for our virtual QPR Training on October 7 from 12–1 p.m.

This 60-minute training will help community members learn how to recognize warning signs, start a caring conversation, and connect someone experiencing a mental health crisis with helpful resources.

***dePrevention

Learn how to recognize warning signs, offer hope, and connect someone to help.

09/22/2026

One of the most common reasons people hesitate to reach out to a struggling friend, coworker, or family member is the fear of saying the wrong thing.

You do not need to have the perfect answer or clinical expertise to offer support. Often, simply noticing and asking direct, caring questions is what matters most.

If you are concerned about someone, here are practical ways to start the conversation:
• "I have noticed you have not seemed quite like yourself lately, and I wanted to check in. How are things really going?"
• "You have had a lot on your plate recently. I am here to listen whenever you want to talk."
• "I care about you and want to make sure you are safe. Have you been feeling overwhelmed or hopeless?"

If they open up, focus on listening without immediately trying to fix the problem or offer quick solutions. Acknowledge their feelings, stay calm, and offer to help connect them to supportive resources or trusted family members.

Reaching out shows people they do not have to carry heavy burdens alone.

If someone you know is in immediate crisis, support is always available by calling or texting 988.

***dePrevention