Center for Healthy Communities

Our mission to "improve the health of our communities through healing, caring, and teaching" led to the development of the Center for Healthy Communities. The Center links Iowa Health - Des Moines resources to identified community needs. In addition, the Center operates as an incubator for emerging ideas and new programming concepts. Center staff are resources to both the Iowa Health System and to the community at-large, developing relationships with partners in the corporate, education, health, human services and public sectors. The Center's community partnership goals include leveraging opportunities for systemic changes, improving health care access and promoting a healthier community.

Since its beginning, the Center has established collaborative, community-based clinical initiatives, including development and initial management of a school-based health center (first in the Des Moines area) and the Latina Family Health Project at La Clinica de la Esperanza.