Iowa Department of Human Services

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Contact Information

2309 Euclid Ave
Des Moines, IA 50314
United States

Online Contact Form
DayHours
Monday 8 AM-4:30 PM
Tuesday 8 AM-4:30 PM
Wednesday 8 AM-4:30 PM
Thursday 8 AM-4:30 PM
Friday 8 AM-4:30 PM
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

If a child is removed from their parent(s) and efforts to keep the child with safe and appropriate relative or fictive kin are unsuccessful, then HHS works to place them with a licensed foster parent.  When a child is in foster care, the initial goal is always to try and safely reunify the child with the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) they were removed from. The order of who the child will be placed with if they are removed from their parent(s) (as long as it is safe) is below.

  1. An adult relative of the child including, but not limited to, adult siblings and parents of siblings
  2. Fictive kin
  3. Any other suitable placement identified by the child's relatives
  4. An individual licensed to provide foster care as described in Chapter 237
  5. A group care facility, shelter care facility, or other residential treatment facility.

If the court terminates the parent’s legal rights to their child, the child may not return to their home and is freed for adoption.


Services and information

  • Kinship / Relative Care
  • Non Related Kin (NRKIN)
  • Traditional Foster Care
  • Specialized / Therapeutic Care
  • Emergency Foster Care
  • Respite Foster Care
  • Adoption

Requirements to become a foster parent

Many new parents are worried they'll be on their own if they decide to foster. That's not true; you have tons of support on your side.

You have the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS). Your local DHS recruits and approves families for fostering and adoption. They also place children with approved parents.

The Iowa Foster & Adoptive Parents Association has handbooks, contact phone numbers, information on training and case plans, useful PDFs for foster parents, and more online.

You also have your local child-placing agency for assistance. They're licensed and approved to train parents and place children in homes. You can find information on how to navigate the legal system or tips for working with birth parents, for example.

Many state non-profits dedicate themselves to assisting foster youth and the families caring for them. They may help with basic care, such as clothing or food, or educate parents on specific topics.


Ratings and Reviews

Average user rating

1.7 / 5
Rating breakdown
5
4
3
2
1
If you have an experience with this agency, please write a review.
Misty Walls
Jun 25, 2021

They illegally removed my son
Lied about my identity
Divulged records of my minor children and their medical records
The assistant county attorney ignored the fraudulent documents that were used in the removal
The clerk lied about me having any hearing and told me that my son belonged to them now and hung up the phone
My worker met me twice in two years
I recieved no services except 7 drug tests
I put myself in services
Therapy
Intensive outpatient therapy
Drug classes
Parenting classes
High conflict coparenting classes
Requested my case file 8 times never got it
Attorney jeremy Merrill never mourned or appealed anything on my behalf
My son had bruises on him one day the worker simply said if I had concerns to call the hotline
Tbe judge mocked me lied on the summery judgment
She dent me to jail so I could bot participate in the trial
They terminated my rights

Rating: 1

T Ragan
Apr 09, 2021

had me jumping from number to number over a simple issue and was not friendly or compliment to assisting the issue, for a DHS worker i would expect more

Rating: 1

Elijah Stpierre
Apr 28, 2020

Spends more time on fake allegations

Rating: 1

Kathy Edwards
Feb 16, 2018

Long story.

Rating: 1