Advocacy

2025 United Ways of Iowa Legislative Priorities

YOUTH OPPORTUNITY
GOAL: Promote the success and well-being of young people to achieve their full potential.

  • Child Care: Expand affordable, high-quality childcare options to support parents in the workforce and foster early childhood development.
  • Education & Literacy:  Invest in literacy programs so early learners achieve educational benchmarks.

HEALTHY COMMUNITY
GOAL: Improve the overall health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities by advancing equitable access to healthcare, nutrition, food security, and brain health supports.

  • Brain Health: Align policies to expand equitable access to brain health supports to all Iowans in need of care.
  • Food Security: Promote equitable access to food and nutrition to improve health outcomes for Iowan.

FINANCIAL SECURITY

  • Affordable Housing: Support efforts to strengthen the children's mental and behavioral health system in Iowa by supporting the recommendations of the Coalition to Advance Mental Health in Iowa for Kids (CAMHI4KIDS). 
  • Workforce Development & Job Training: Support investments to increase access to dental care for low-income Iowans across the state. 

COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
GOAL: Address urgent community needs today to strengthen communities for the future.

  • Crisis Response:  Expand Iowa's 211 hotline to serve as a central resource during times of crisis and disaster.