Having a baby is an exciting time. It can also be overwhelming, especially if the family is experiencing other life challenges. YSS is here to help.
Our Nest Program provides educational classes and an incentive program to help low-income parents purchase baby supplies. The Healthy Futures Program offers one-on-one support to young moms including parenting skills training and screenings for child development and maternal depression.
Nest Program
The Nest Program offers:
- Educational classes on pregnancy, infant care, and parenting
- Baby clothing and supplies, including diapers, bottles, bedding, strollers, car seats, and more
- Connections to additional community services
Nest is an incentive-based program. As participants attend classes, prenatal office visits, child immunizations, and home visits, they earn points to redeem for baby supplies and equipment.
Attendance at a minimum of three programs offered through Nest is required before points can be redeemed.
About the Program
How to Redeem Points
Incentive points are available to redeem via Story and Boone County agencies and health programs including:
- Ames Public Library
- Early Head Start
- Primary Health Care
- ISU Extension Family Nutrition Program
- Lutheran Services of Iowa
- Mary Greeley Medical Center
- McFarland Clinic
- Mid-Iowa Community Action
- People Place
- WIC
Get Started
To enroll in Nest Programs, participants must:
- Have proof of Story or Boone County residence
- Provide proof of income and meet income guidelines (185% of Federal Poverty Level or below in Story County; 200% of Federal Poverty Level or below in Boone County)
- Be pregnant or have a child six months of age or younger
Participants may remain in the program until their child reaches two years old or until the program funds are exhausted.
To enroll, contact Erin Hall at 515-451-4622 or ehall@yss.org.
Healthy Futures
Sometimes parents and caregivers need help learning how to manage a growing family. That’s why YSS offers the Healthy Futures Program.
Our knowledgeable, caring staff provide one-on-one support to parents and children, with the goal of creating a happy and healthy family.
This voluntary home visitation program is available to every woman in Story and Boone County who is pregnant and/or parenting children who are age five and younger.
To enroll, talk to your doctor or contact Erin Hall at ehall@yss.org or 515-451-4622.
About the Program
Building a Home for Healthy Growth
As part of the Healthy Futures Program, a certified family development specialist offers in-home prenatal support, information on parenting and child development, and community resources.
Screenings: We offer screenings for maternal depression, child development, and home safety to every family receiving services.
Parenting Education: Our evidence-based curriculum educates parents about their child’s development stages and provides tools to help them be the best parents they can be.
Family Assistance: Our development specialists assist your family by providing referrals to appropriate resources. Special funds are also available to assist during a crisis.
Community-Driven Support
Healthy Futures is made possible through many generous donors, including the program’s largest financial supporter Boone and Story County BooSt Together for Children/Early Childhood Iowa.
YSS collaborates with several other highly respected organizations to make this valuable program available:
- Boone County Family Birth Center & OB/GYN
- Boone County Family Medicine
- Boone County Hospital OB/GYN
- Doran Clinic for Women
- McFarland Clinic OB/GYN
