Family & Food

In partnership with Iowa State’s College of Human Sciences, Human Sciences Extension and Outreach engages you through research-based education, empowering you to live your best life. Our education helps you become closer to family, raise healthy children, talk with your teens, improve relationships, enjoy a lifetime full of memories, save more money, live a healthy life, have access to trusted resources, and care for yourself and others. We invite you to join us in person, virtually, or on-line!

Growing Strong Families

Do you have a young child age birth to 5 and are you…

  • Looking for some help in daily parenting challenges?
  • Wondering if your child’s development is on target?
  • Worrying about your child’s eating habits?
  • Feeling like you don’t know where your money goes?

Get answers to these questions and more through home visits or group meetings.  There is no fee for participation or income guidelines for services.  Growing Strong Families serves families in Fremont, Page and Wayne counties.

A parent educator will visit you in your home on a regular schedule to offer support and information as you meet the changing needs of your child.  During the visit the parent educator will:

  • Teach lessons on child development, nutrition, money management, and health and safety.
  • Encourage you to have fun playing with your child and show you developmentally appropriate materials and activities.
  • Connect you with other organizations and agencies that can support and enrich your family.

Key Concepts:

  • Children are born learners.
  • Children learn the most from the people they love – their parents.
  • Parents are experts on their own children and deserve support in their parenting role.
  • All parents want to be good parents.
  • Diversity and cultural differences are valued.
  • All families have strengths.

Growing Strong Families is sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and uses the nationally acclaimed Parents as Teachers curriculum.  Special funding for the program is provided by Corner Counties Early Childhood Area. 

To learn more about Growing Strong Families in Fremont County, contact Heidi Lowthorp by phone at 712-374-2351, or by email at hlowtho@iastate.edu.