ChildServe

ChildServe partners with families to help children with special healthcare needs live a great life. To learn more, visit www.childserve.org.
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ChildServe is a not-for-profit organization that partners with families to help children with special health care needs live a great life. Originally founded in 1928 as a convalescent home for children, today ChildServe provides specialized pediatric healthcare services to nearly 5,800 children in Iowa. Through the support of private insurance, public funds, and the generosity of donors, ChildServ

e offers accessible, family-centered care unique to each child’s needs, hopes, and dreams. We provide services to children with special healthcare needs. In creating a common understanding of the term special healthcare needs, we note the term "health" is more than a medical definition or the absence of disability. To ChildServe, health is a state of physical, social, cognitive, environmental, and spiritual well-being. This broader concept of health helps us understand the parameters of .

06/18/2026

Something exciting is underway at ChildServe – Johnston... Tiny Town coming soon! 🏘️

This summer, our Johnston outpatient programs will welcome Tiny Town, a child-sized community designed to bring therapy goals to life through play. Featuring familiar spaces like a café, doctor's office, salon, grocery store and school, Tiny Town will create engaging, real-world opportunities for children to learn, grow and build skills in a fun, supportive environment.

A special thank you to Peggy Fisher and Larry Stelter, whose generosity is helping make this innovative space possible for the children and families we serve. 💜

We can't wait to share more as Tiny Town takes shape. Stay tuned!

Images: Tiny Town construction updates.

06/17/2026

ChildServe's Complex Care Clinic meets families where they are at. 💜

The Clinic provides comprehensive care for individuals with significant chronic conditions affecting multiple body systems, who take multiple medications, rely on medical technology and see several specialists.

This includes individuals with medical complexities, intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities. Our multidisciplinary team of experts can provide primary care and develop a united treatment plan designed to enhance quality of life.

We invite you to call us at (515) 251-5555 to connect with our team and to learn more by visiting https://www.childserve.org/complex-care-clinic/.

06/16/2026

Congratulations to ChildServe President & CEO, Dr. Teri Wahlig, for receiving a 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Carver College of Medicine! 🎉

A neonatologist by training and a visionary leader, Dr. Wahlig has led the charge to improve the lives of children with special healthcare needs and their families. Her leadership has helped ChildServe expand access to innovative care for children across Iowa.

This well-deserved recognition celebrates her commitment to service, excellence and advocacy for Iowa's most medically complex children. We're grateful for her leadership and proud to celebrate this achievement.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Wahlig on this incredible honor! 💜 👏

Read through Dr. Wahlig's award profile here: https://alumni.medicine.uiowa.edu/news/2026/06/teri-wahlig-award-service

06/15/2026

Busy schedules filled with sports and academics came to a sudden halt when Dowling Catholic High School junior Lauren experienced an unexpected health challenge. After noticing a decline in her energy and abilities, she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome – a rare condition in which the immune system attacks the nervous system.

As her condition progressed, Lauren experienced rapid changes in her health, becoming paralyzed from the neck down and unable to walk or eat on her own. Her condition resulted in a 40-day hospital stay. Her journey to regain strength led her to ChildServe’s Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation program for three weeks, where she took part in intensive therapy to help her reclaim her independence.

Today, Lauren is back to herself – a thriving student athlete, competing in track and soccer. Check out this WHO 13 News story to learn about Lauren's recovery and how ChildServe’s programs have helped her along the way: https://bit.ly/WHOLaurenStory.

Images: Lauren at ChildServe’s Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation unit.

06/14/2026

Summer is here at ChildServe! ☀️

A huge thank you to the interns at Baker Group for helping us get our ChildServe - Johnston campus looking beautiful and ready for the season! Thanks to 33 interns and 800 bags of mulch, our grounds look fresh, welcoming and ready for the families we serve.

We’re grateful to the volunteers who spent their morning giving back and helping make ChildServe an even more inviting place for children, families and team members. Your hard work and dedication are truly appreciated!

Thank you to Baker Group for your continued partnership and support of ChildServe. We appreciate all you do to help keep our facilities looking great and operate at their best.

Images: Interns from Baker Group working on landscaping, laying mulch and getting a tour of ChildServe - Johnston

06/13/2026

Sibshops is coming to ChildServe – Johnston in July!

Sibshops is a fun and engaging support group for children ages 6-12 who have a sibling with special needs. At Sibshops, your child will enjoy games, crafts, snacks and community with others who understand the unique relationships they have with their sibs!

Each event is delivered in a 3-hour format on a weekend and led by ChildServe‘s team members who have received Sibshops facilitator training to provide this uplifting, fun event.

Learn more and register at https://www.childserve.org/childserve-johnston-sibshops-07-25-26/.

06/12/2026

This week we celebrated our CNAs! 💜

To our ChildServe Certified Nurse Assistants, thank you for the compassion, dedication and care you provide every day. Your kindness, patience and commitment make a lasting difference in the lives of those you serve and their families.

We are grateful for everything you do and are proud to recognize your contributions. Happy National CNA week! 🎉
Interested in joining a team of nurses and leaders who are passionate about helping children with special healthcare needs live a ? Learn more about ChildServe's nursing career opportunities at https://bit.ly/NursingAtChildServe.

Images: ChildServe CNAs posing for photos in the Healing Garden.

06/11/2026

ChildServe is hiring a Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to join our Executive Team and help shape the future of care for the children and families we serve.💜

This is more than a leadership role; it’s an opportunity to set the clinical vision and drive innovation across our programs. The CMO will provide physician leadership for the Medical Staff while overseeing quality, safety, compliance and accreditation efforts. This role will play a key role in advancing our mission and growing programs that make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we support.

Help us spread the word about this unique leadership opportunity! https://www.childserve.org/childserve-openings/?p=job%2Fo2jaAfwP.

06/10/2026

Great partnerships and community support help make ChildServe’s mission possible. 💜

A special thank you to Brick Gentry P.C. for recently volunteering their time to create birthday and congratulatory boxes for our team members to share with the children we serve. These thoughtful gifts will help make special moments even more meaningful for kids and families at ChildServe.

We’re grateful for community partners like Brick Gentry who help kids live a great life through their generosity and support.

Image description: Members of the Brick Gentry team pose with the birthday and congratulatory boxes they created for ChildServe children and families.

06/09/2026

These Childcare graduates are BLASTING off to pre-k! 🚀

During this special graduation season, we're feeling especially grateful for the laughter, learning and memories we've shared with the incredible kids in our Childcare program. Congratulations to our Class of 2026! Your future is so bright!

Learn more about ChildServe's Childcare program at https://www.childserve.org/childcare/.

Images: Childcare graduates celebrating their time at ChildServe.

Address

5406 Merle Hay Road
Johnston, IA
50131

Telephone

+15157278750

Website

http://www.childserve.org/

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