Announcements

Update: We’re putting the finishing touches on our new Iowa Compass resource database!

We’ve had a small delay in moving to our new database platform. Sometimes technology takes a little longer than planned, and we want to make sure everything is working the way it should before we launch.

In the meantime, our resource database is still available and works the same way it always has, so you can continue searching for resources as usual.

We’re hoping to have the new platform ready in the next few days, and we’ll share another update as soon as it’s live and ready to use.

Thanks for your patience!

Exciting changes are on the way for Iowa Compass! By end of day on July 1st, the Iowa Compass Resource Database will get a much-needed refresh and a brand new look. Iowa Compass will make the transition to a new database software provider to create a more user-friendly experience for online searches and make it easier to find aging and disability information and resources.

Need help finding resources during this transition? As always, the Iowa Compass team will be ready to help:

1. Reach out to them by email at information@iowacompass.org
2. Call them at 800-779-2001
3. Use the Contact Us page on the Iowa Compass website to start a chat

Heads up: Text messaging interruption!

The Iowa Compass team will not be able to send or receive text messages from July 1st through July 6th during the switch to the new software system. Iowa Compass expects texting to be back by July 7th. But if it’s back sooner, we’ll let you know.

Iowa HHS recently refreshed the HOME website with a new look and a simpler layout. These changes will make it easier to find important information, stay up to date on HOME progress, and access new HOME resources as they become available. Take a look! View HOME Website

LivingWorks Start – Enroll Today for Free Begin the Conversation On behalf of Iowa’s Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health, we are pleased to offer enrollment to LivingWorks Start at no cost to you. LivingWorks Start is a 90-minute online training that helps learners develop foundational skills to recognize when someone may be thinking of suicide and connect them to further help. Once you enroll, you have 60 days to complete, so we encourage you to get started with your learning as soon as you can! Steps to Enroll: 1. Click “Enroll Now” below to begin 2. Create LivingWorks Learn account 3. Proceed to the learning catalog via “Our Training” 4. Launce the course by clicking “LivingWorks Start” 5. Complete the course within 60 days   Enroll Now

Please contact iowa-cebh@uiowa.edu with any questions. To learn more about LivingWorks, Visit Living Works                          If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org.

Presented by Home Modifications Iowa and Iowa HHS, this conference brings together healthcare professionals, community leaders, and policymakers to move aging forward in Iowa through real collaboration… not just conversation. The conference takes place on August 6th at Prairie Meadows in Altoona.

To learn more, please visit Iowa State Conference on Aging Registration.

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released the updated Iowa Olmstead Plan, which provides a strategic framework to expand opportunities, improve service access, and enhance the quality of life for Iowans with disabilities.

The updated plan outlines how state agencies, local governments, and community organizations can work together to build a more coordinated and inclusive system of support. Through an emphasis on collaboration, the Olmstead Plan reaffirms Iowa’s commitment to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have the ability to live, work, and participate fully in their communities.

The plan identifies several Olmstead Progress Areas that guide this work, including strengthening community-based services, expanding independent living opportunities, improving access to housing and transportation, and supporting employment and wellness initiatives. These priorities reinforce Iowa’s dedication to advancing integration and promoting meaningful choice for individuals with disabilities.

You may access the plan and related materials using the links below:

2026 Iowa Olmstead Full Plan   

2026 Olmstead Plan Summary & Resource Documents

Olmstead Plan and Stakeholder Engagement | Health & Human Services

Several code changes took place on January 1, 2026 related to HCBS Waiver. Please see the Desk Resource HCBS Waiver Service code updates for more information.

Some Iowans may lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program coverage starting November 1. If this affects you, here are some resources to help: Visit the Iowa HHS Emergency Food Assistance page and use the Food Bank Service Area map and resources to find food banks and mobile pantries in your county.

Visit 2-1-1 Iowa to search for local food pantries or mobile food pantries by entering your ZIP code.

DoorDash Emergency Food Response Program is waiving delivery and service fees for eligible SNAP customers from participating grocery stores.

There will be no more “self-employed” CDAC providers registering with HHS as of December 31, 2025. CDAC is Consumer Directed Attendant Care and is the service of in-home Personal Care. CDAC is a service covered by all HCBS waivers except the Children’s Mental Health waiver. CCO will remain an option as will “agency” CDAC for the waivers that currently offer CDAC.

For more information, visit Individual Consumer Directed Attendant Care (ICDAC) Transition | Health & Human Services