(Atlantic) Community members, employers, nonprofit organizations, faith communities, educational institutions, and local leaders are encouraged to attend the official launch of Thrive Iowa in Cass County on June 23, 2026. The event is scheduled from 10 to 11 am at Bluebird Hill and features remarks from state and local leaders, community partners, and organizations that have helped bring the initiative to Cass County.
Through a secure digital platform, Thrive Iowa brings together community organizations, government agencies, healthcare providers, schools, businesses, and faith-based partners to create a more coordinated approach to serving individuals and families. The initiative focuses on improving communication among organizations to help families more easily access resources and support within the community.
Cass Health Thrive Coordinator Kristen Brooks said, “Simply put, our goal is to help families who are in difficult situations get to a more stable place in life. These situations are usually complex for an individual to navigate on their own— maybe it’s employment issues, substance use, and also food insecurity within one household. A situation like that needs multiple organizations from across the area to intervene. Thrive gives us that space for all of the applicable helpers to know about the family, know what their needs are, monitor their progress, and continue to connect them to the right people as the family makes progress towards a more secure, healthy household.”
Attendees at the launch will learn more about the vision of Thrive Iowa, opportunities for partnership, and how the community can work together to create stronger pathways for families and individuals throughout the county. Attendees can also meet the Thrive staff — in addition to Brooks, Cass Health also recently onboarded two Thrive Navigators, Mady Tibken and Vicki Williams, who will work directly with families.
“Our community already has incredible organizations doing important work. Thrive Iowa gives us a way to strengthen connections between organizations, coordinate services, and make it easier for individuals and families to find the support they need when they need it,” said Brooks.
Cass County was selected by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services as one of the first counties in Iowa to launch Thrive Iowa, recognizing the community’s strong history of collaboration and readiness to build a coordinated system of support for local families. Cass Health was selected to serve as the local backbone organization responsible for convening partners, coordinating implementation efforts, and supporting the development of a shared community framework through its Public Health Department.
This work builds upon existing collaborative efforts already underway in Cass County. Cass Health’s Public Health team currently coordinates Healthy Cass County, the Cass County Coalition for Mental Wellness, community health improvement initiatives, and numerous partnerships focused on mental health, food security, healthy living, and other factors that influence the health and well-being of residents.
