Each year United Way works with legislators, communities, programs, and leaders across the state of Iowa to establish mission-driven public policy goals and priorities to achieve systemic changes.

Advocacy Agenda 2023

United to Thrive PuzzleUNITED to THRIVE

The 5 Elements of a Thriving Community are the interconnected areas of focus United Way of Central Iowa uses to create strategies and set goals to improve the lives of every person in our community.

 

ESSENTIAL NEEDS

  • Lead efforts to begin state investment in the statewide 211 coalition for health and human services resource referral, disaster recovery, and a tool to address social determinants of health.

  • Support the efforts of the OpportUNITY Affordable Housing Workgroup to address affordable housing and reduce cost-burdens for families seeking homeownership.

  • Support a direct appropriation for the Double Up Food Bucks program allowing SNAP participants better access to healthy, nutritious fruits and vegetables.

  • Support efforts to increase SNAP access post-pandemic by bringing Iowa’s income eligibility more in line with federal guidelines.

  • Support sustainable funding for public transportation systems in the central Iowa region and statewide.

 

EARLY CHILDHOOD SUCCESS

  • Support maternal-child home visitation programs and their expansion to ensure a healthy start for children through prenatal and maternal health care.

  • Lead efforts to build investment in the childcare workforce to support quality, affordable childcare for all.

 

EDUCATION SUCCESS

  • Support the recommendations of the Task Force on Growing a Diverse K-12 Teacher Base to enhance career pathways for paraprofessionals to fill critical roles in the education system.

  • Support dual-language learners in opportunities to gain skills and earn employer-ready credentials for bilingual job skills.

 

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

  • Support quality job creation that provides the necessary training, education, and professional development to ensure workers are equipped to succeed in their work and career.

Support the recommendations of the Iowa Skills2Compete Coalition including:

  • Lead efforts to increase affordable access to quality childcare and promote stabilization in the childcare workforce.

  • Support efforts to expand equitable access to broadband across central Iowa.

  • Maintain current investments in Future Ready Iowa, adult basic education, PACE programs, pathway navigators, industry sector partnerships, and GAP tuition assistance.

  • Support the Future Ready Iowa initiative to help Iowa's workforce grow through new investments that build on the solid foundation of programs and funding currently in place.

  • Expand PACE programs to include apprenticeships and other work-based learning opportunities.

  • Lead efforts to expand engagement with the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment & Training program (SNAP E&T).

Support the recommendations of the OpportUNITY Re-entry Taskforce:

  • Support efforts to address identity theft among those entering incarceration through assistance in financial counseling and credit report freezes.

  • Support local ordinances and agency rules that require landlords to demonstrate how tenant application fees are utilized to discourage misuse.

 

HEALTH & WELL-BEING

  • Lead children’s mental health and well-being by leading the Coalition to Advance Mental Health in Iowa for Kids (CAMHI4KIDS).

  • Educate policymakers on the importance of overall oral health in partnership with the Oral Health Iowa coalition.

  • Lead the recommendations of the Well Kids of Central Iowa Coalition.

  • Support the recommendations of the Iowa ACEs 360 Coalition (Adverse Childhood Experiences).

2023 Legislative Agenda (PDF)
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Your Elected Officials

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Iowa General Assembly

Learn about current legislation, committee meetings and legislators at the Iowa General Assembly website.

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Governor Kim Reynolds

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds

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State Legislators

 

Use this website to find your representatives in the Iowa Senate and House of Representatives, and the contact information for each.

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House of Representatives

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United States Senate

U.S. Senate

Contact information and details for Iowa's Senators:

Nonprofit Advocacy & Lobbying

Can nonprofits lobby? What is legal? The following sites are useful resources for nonprofits engaging in public policy and advocacy.

CENTER FOR LOBBYING IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST

CENTER FOR LOBBYING IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST

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INDEPENDENT SECTOR

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ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICE

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INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

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"Our work with Iowa legislators, business leaders and community impact experts is an important part of United Way's work, and has led to significant progress statewide."

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Dave Stone
Advocacy Officer 

d.stone@unitedwaydm.org   (515) 246-6538

UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL IOWA
1111 9TH ST  •  Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 246-6500   •   contactus@unitedwaydm.org

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