Support Group Locator
Below is a list of all foster and adoptive parent support groups listed by DHS Service Area. Please keep in mind, some support groups overlap the DHS Service Areas, so if you can’t find one in your area and you live near the boundaries of another DHS Service Area you may find a local support group listed under a different DHS Service Area.
Some support groups produce their own support group newsletter, their newsletters are posted below with their group listing. If you would like to view a list of upcoming support group trainings, click here. If you organize a foster/adoptive support group in Iowa, are not listed below and want to become affiliated with IFAPA, click here.
Ames Service Area Support Groups
Ames Foster/Adoptive Parent Support Group
(Counties: Story, Marshall, Hardin)
Meeting time: Monthly - 2nd Thursday (meets Aug – May) 6:00 – 8:00pm
Meeting location: Youth & Shelter Services, 420 Kellogg Ave, Ames
Contact person: Cherie Torresi (YSS) - 515-291-3203, ctorresi@yss.ames.ia.us
Ames Area Adoption Network Support Group
Open to all adoptive families (international, private, relative or state)
(Counties: Ames Service Area)
Meeting time: Monthly - 4th Monday 6:00 – 8:00pm
Meeting location: Youth & Shelter Services, 420 Kellogg Ave, Ames
Contact person: Julie Schroeder (YSS) - 515-291-3029, jschroeder@yss.ames.ia.us
Hardin County Foster/Adopt Support Group
(Counties: Hardin)
Meeting time: Monthly - 3rd Thursday (Sept – May) 6:00 – 8:00pm
Meeting location: United Methodist Church, 1415 12th Street, Eldora
Contact person: Valerie Soesbe – 641-858-6253, soesbe@peoplepc.com
Marshall/Hardin/Tama County Support Group
(Counties: Marshall, Hardin, Tama)
Meeting time: Monthly - 2nd Tuesday (Sept – May) 6:00 – 8:00pm
Meeting location: First United Methodist Church, 202 W. Main Street, Marshalltown
Contact person: Kim Keenan (DHS) – 641-352-5623, kkeenan@dhs.state.ia.us
J.A.M.S. Support Group
(Counties: Jasper, Poweshiek, Marion)
Meeting time: Meets 4th Tuesday (only Sept-Oct, Jan-May) 6:30 – 8:30pm
Meeting location: Pence-Reese Tribute Center, 201 E 4th Street North, Newton
Contact person: Kim Jones - 641-275-1029, kimjones@mchsi.com
Jasper Area Adoption Support Group
Open to all adoptive families (international, private, relative or state)
Meeting time: Monthly - 3rd Thursday 6:30 – 8:30pm
Meeting location: Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1900 N. 4th Ave E, Newton
Contact person: Julie Schroeder (YSS) - 515-291-3029, jschroeder@yss.ames.ia.us or Kim Jones at 641-275-1029 or kimjones@mchsi.com
Children & Families of Iowa (CFI) Support Group
(Counties: Webster, Calhoun, Pocahontas, Wright, Humboldt, Hamilton)
Meeting time: Bimonthly - 3rd Thursday (not meeting in August), 6:00 – 8:00pm
Meeting location: Children & Families of Iowa, 111 Ave O West, Fort Dodge
Contact person: Joy Thoma (CFI) - 515-573-2193, joyt@cfiowa.org
Thor Foster Adoptive Support Group
(Counties: Humboldt, Wright, Hamilton, Webster, Calhoun, Pocahontas)
Meeting time: Bimonthly (odd months, no July meeting) - 1st Monday, 7:00 – 9:00pm
Meeting location: Lutheran Church, Thor
Contact person: Marion Dencklau - 515-378-3231, marion2@wccta.net
Cedar Rapids Service Area Support Groups
Jackson/Jones County Foster & Adoptive Parent Association
(Counties: Jackson, Jones)
Meeting time: Bimonthly (March – November), 2nd Thursday, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Meeting location: Maquoketa Public Library, 126 S. 2nd St., Maquoketa
Contact person: Kim Small – 563-357-2866 or smallfri6@msn.com
Iowa County Adoptive, Foster & Respite Families Contact / Support Group
(Counties: Iowa)
Meeting time: bimonthly
Meeting location: St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church, 113 WRM Dr, Williamsburg
Contact person: Tammy Frame - 319-560-4745, tamaraframe@yahoo.com
WINGS Support Group
(Counties: Keokuk, Mahaska, Marion, Poweshiek, Wapello)
Meeting time: Monthly – 2nd Tuesday, 6-9pm
Meeting location: First Church of the Nazarene, Oskaloosa (Gymnasium)
Contact person: Julie Seemann (IFAPA) 641-673-4049, julies_ifapa@hotmail.com
Appanoose County Support Group
(Counties: Appanoose, Davis, Monroe, Wayne)
Meeting time: Monthly – 3rd Tuesday (Meets Sept – April) 6:00 - 8:00pm
Meeting location: Church of the Nazarene, 415 Bank Street, Centerville
Contact person: Lisa Niday (CFI) – 641-856-3852, lisan@cfiowa.org
Council Bluffs Service Area Support Groups
Council Bluffs Area Foster & Adoptive Parent Support Group
(Counties: Pottawattamie)
Meeting time: Monthly – 3rd Thursday, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Meeting location: IA Western Comm College (Looft Hall) 2700 College Rd, Council Bluffs
Contact person: Hector Villarreal (IFAPA) - 877-352-1299, ifapa-hectorv@q.com
Council Bluffs Support Group Newsletter - Jan 2010
Denison Area Foster & Adoptive Parent Support Group
(Counties: Crawford, Ida, Sac, Shelby)
Meeting time: Monthly – 4th Monday (except July & Dec), 6:30 – 8:30pm
Meeting location: Denison Police Department (Meeting Room), 1119 1st Ave N, Denison
Contact person: Dawn Luetje (LSI) - 712-263-9341, dawn.luetje@lsiowa.org
West Central Iowa Support Group For Foster & Adoptive Parents
(Counties: Audubon, Carroll, Greene, Guthrie, Crawford)
Meeting time: Monthly – 1st Tuesday (except July & Dec), 7:00 – 9:00pm
Meeting location: Family Resource Center, 506 West 7th Street, Carroll
Contact person: Cathe Vanderheiden - 712-792-2025, joecatvanderheiden@yahoo.com
Cass County Area Support Group
(Counties: Cass)
Meeting time: Monthly – 3rd Thursday (meets Feb-Apr & Sept-Nov), 6:30 – 8:30pm
Meeting location: IWCC Campus - 705 Walnut, Atlantic
Contact person: Laura Carlton (IFAPA) - 712-778-5001, lcarlton_ifapa@netins.net
Davenport Service Area Support Groups
Scott County Foster & Adoptive Parent Association
(Counties: Scott)
Meeting time: Monthly - 3rd Tuesday (meetsJan-May & Sept-Nov) 6:00 - 9:00pm
Meeting location: Scott Community College Urban Center, 306 W. River Dr, Davenport
Contact person: James Huston (IFAPA) – 888-932-5041 jhuston.ifapa@hotmail.com
Des Moines County Support Group
(Counties: Des Moines)
Meeting time: Monthly - 1st Tuesday (meet Sept – May) 6:00 - 8:30pm
(Childcare provided, no food)
Meeting location: First Assembly of God, 1809 Agency Street, Burlington
Contact person: Melissa Foster (Young House) – 319-752-4000 ext. 129 mfoster@younghouse.org
Henry County Support Group
(Counties: Henry)
Meeting time: Monthly – 4th Monday (meet Sept – May) 6:30-8:30pm (no food or childcare)
Meeting location: First United Methodist Church, 309 N Main St., Mt Pleasant
Contact person: Melissa Foster (Young House) – 319-752-4000 ext. 129, mfoster@younghouse.org
Lee County Foster/Adoptive Parent Support Group
(Counties: Lee)
Meeting time: Monthly, 3rd Tuesday, 6:00 – 8:30pm (Sept – May) Dinner served
Meeting location: Sirloin Stockade, 3461 Main St. (meeting room), Keokuk
No childcare provided
Contact person: Ross Zetterlund – 319-524-1545 or Candy Cannon – 319-473-0700, sccannon@mchsi.com
Des Moines Service Area Support Groups
Breakfast Support Group
(Counties: Polk)
Meeting time: Weekly - Tuesdays, 9:00 – 11:00am
Meeting location: Call for location details
Contact person: Linda Dodson (IFAPA) 515-953-0515, ldodsonifapa@q.com
Please note: This is a support only group, trainings are not offered by this group.
Madison/Warren County Foster & Adoptive Parent Support Group
(Counties: Madison, Warren)
Meeting time: Monthly - 1st Thursday (meets Sept – May, not Dec or March) 6:30–8:30pm
Meeting location: Indianola Public Library, 207 N. B St., Indianola
Contact person: Sharon Jensen – 515-961-0665, sharon.jensen@simpson.edu
TLC Support Group
(Counties: Decatur, Clark, Ringgold, Wayne)
Meeting time: Bimonthly – 3rd Monday (Sept, Nov, Jan, Mar, May), 7:00 – 9:00pm
Meeting location: Leon Community Center, 203 NE 2nd St., Leon
Contact person: Linda Johnson – 641-784-7523 or Thelma Webb – 641-784-6774, tcwebb@mchsi.com
Dubuque Service Area Support Groups
Dubuque County Foster Parent Association
(Counties: Dubuque)
Meeting time: Monthly, 1st Tuesday (except Jan. & July), 7:00 – 9:00pm, social time at 6:30pm
Meeting location: Four Oaks, 180 W. 15th Street, Dubuque
Contact person: Karen Fox (LSI) 563-513-7026, karen.fox@lsiowa.org
Jackson/Jones County Foster & Adoptive Parent Association
(Counties: Jackson, Jones)
Meeting time: Bimonthly (March – November), 2nd Thursday, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Meeting location: Maquoketa Public Library, 126 S. 2nd St., Maquoketa
Contact person: Kim Small – 563-357-2866 or smallfri6@msn.com
HAWC Foster Parents Support Group
(Counties: Howard, Allamakee, Winneshiek, Chickasaw)
Meeting time: 3rd Tuesday, 6:00 – 9:00pm
Meeting location: United Methodist Church (in the basement) Decorah
Contact person: Heidi Bohr – 563-382-5395, heidi.bohr@lsiowa.org
Clinton County Support Group
(Counties: Clinton)
Meeting time: 3rd Thursday (group meets Oct, Jan, Feb, April, June, Aug) 7:00 – 9:00pm
Meeting location: Clinton Community College, 1000 Lincoln Blvd, Clinton
Contact person: Earle & Patti Rock – 563-242-0382, erock52@mchsi.com
Independence Area Support Group
(Counties: Buchanan, Fayette, Delaware, Black Hawk, Clayton)
Meeting time: Monthly – 2nd Thursday (Sept – May only), 7:00 - 9:00pm, 6:30pm supper
Meeting location: First United Methodist Church, 313 2nd Street SE, Independence
Contact person: Dave Brace (IFAPA) – 866-547-1753, dbrace-ifapa@indytel.com
Independence Support Group Newsletter: Sept 2009
Talk ‘n’ Share Support Group
(Counties: Fayette)
Meeting time: Monthly 4th Tuesday, 7:00 – 9:00pm (Aug. - May)
Meeting location: Victory Christian Church, 112 S. Pine St., West Union
Contact person: Wayne Schroeder – 563-427-5310 or Amy Moore – 563-427-5393, tamoore@netins.net
Sioux City Service Area Support Groups
Climbing Hill Support Group
(Counties: Woodbury)
Meeting time: Monthly – 1st Tuesday, 7:00 - 9:00pm (Sept - April)
Meeting location: Climbing Hill Emergency Substation, Climbing Hill
Contact person: Rachelle Polkinghorn - 712-873-5245, ericrach@netins.net
Bonding Families Together
(Counties: Woodbury, Plymouth)
Meeting time: Monthly – 3rd Tuesday (7:00 - 9:00pm)
Meeting location: Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church, 203 Port Neal Rd, Sergeant Bluff
Contact person: Patricia VanMaanen - 712-259-0624, trishv2@cableone.net
LeMars Support Group
(Counties: Plymouth)
Meeting time: Monthly – 2nd Tuesday (Sept-Nov, Jan-April)
Meeting location: LeMars Bible Church, 1550 7th Ave SE, LeMars
Contact person: Racheele Polkinghorn - 712-873-5245, ericrach@netins.net
Sioux Area Foster & Adoptive Parent Support Group
(Counties: Sioux, O’Brien, Lyon)
Meeting time: Bimonthly – 2nd Thursday (Sept, Nov, Jan, Mar & May)
Meeting location: Home of Shanna DeHoogh, 4282 370th Street, Sheldon
Contact person: Shanna DeHoogh - 712-230-0542, shannadh@natedh.com
Sheldon Support Group
(Counties: O'Brien)
Meeting time: Monthly, 3rd Thursday (6:30 – 8:30pm)
Meeting location: Parkview Assembly og God Church, 516 4th Ave, Sheldon
Contact person: Rachel Esser 712-324-2359, social_ray@yahoo.com
Clay County Support Group
(Counties: Clay)
Meeting time: Monthly, 3rd Thursday (6:30 – 8:30pm) (Sept – April)
Meeting location: Hope Reformed Church, 919 Grand Ave, Spencer
Contact person: Kelly Upton (IFAPA) 877-807-8009, kellyuifapa@ruthventel.com
Kossuth County Foster Parent Support Group
(Counties: Kossuth)
Meeting time: Monthly – 3rd Thursday, 7:00 - 9:00pm (Sept – May), Beginning in December 2009 - meeting time will change to Monthly - 2nd Thursday, 7:00 - 9:00pm
Meeting location: Kossuth Reg. Hospital, Algona, beginning in January 2010 meeting location will change to First Presbyterian Church, 101 North Main St in Algona.
Contact person: Kristy Wolf - 515-885-2741, wolfpack@mchsi.com
Waterloo Service Area Support Groups
Black Hawk Foster & Adoptive Support Group
(Counties: Black Hawk)
Meeting time: Monthly – 2nd Tuesday (Sept – May) 7:00 – 9:00pm training, 6:30pm social
Meeting location: Grace Lutheran Church, 1024 West 8th Street, Waterloo
Contact person: Dianna Seedorff (IFAPA) 888-622-4521, seedorff_ifapa@hotmail.com
Waterloo Support Group Newsletter: Sept 2009, Oct 2009, Nov 2009 Jan 2010,
Feb 2010
Allison Area Foster Parents
(Counties: Bremer, Butler, Franklin, Grundy)
Meeting time: Bimonthly – 3rd Tuesday (meets Sept, Nov, Jan, March & May), 7– 9pm
Meeting location: Vineyard Community Church, 319 W. Bremer, Waverly
Contact person: Nancy Magnall (IFAPA) 877-467-4100, magnall_ifapa@msn.com
Waverly Support Group Newsletter: Sept 2009 Nov 2009 Dec 2009, Jan 2010, Feb 2010
North Central Iowa Foster & Adoptive Parents Association
(Counties: Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Worth, Winnebago)
Meeting time: Monthly – 3rd Tuesday (meets Sept – May, not Dec) 6:30–9:00pm, 6:30pm social time, 7:00 - 9:00 training
Meeting location: DHS,22 N Georgia, (Liberty Room, enter east doors), Mason City
Contact person: Christie McGuire (IFAPA) 641-923-2618, cmcguirieifapa@gmail.comMason City Support Group Newsletter: Oct 2009, Nov 2009, Jan 2010, Feb 2010
Charles City Area Support Group
(Counties: Chickasaw, Floyd, Mitchell)
Meeting time: Monthly – 2nd Tuesday, 6:00 – 8:00pm
Meeting location: This group rotates between three locations: Charles City (Bethany Alliance Church, 1100 Clinton St.), New Hampton (Redeemer Lutheran Church, 611 W. Court St) & Osage (Osage Alliance Church, 726 State St)
Contact person: Joshua Pedretti (LSI) 563-419-7057, joshua.pedretti@lsiowa.org
Upcoming Support Group Training Opportunities
To view a list of upcoming support group trainings, click here.
