Synergy Center

The Synergy Center’s mission is to support multiple health organizations that focus on upstream approaches to ultimately improve the health and well-being of the community. The collaborative environment will create new relationships, leading to knowledge sharing that helps organizations advance their respective missions.

They each focus on different elements of the social determinants of health. Please see our currently participating nonprofits in this shared space below. The Synergy Center brings together health-focused, nonprofit organizations sharing a modern, office space environment and resources funded by Telligen Community Initiative.

A group of medical professionals having a meeting in a conference room

Participating Nonprofits

Field to Family

Field to Family is an Iowa City-based nonprofit that works to create a more local, healthy and sustainable food system. We envision a region where people eat with the seasons, where farmers make a living, and our ecosystem is diverse, abundant, and healthy. (Health determinant of healthy food access)

Love for Red

Love For Red is a nonprofit organization that believes feeling clean and having dignity on your period should not be a privilege only some can enjoy. We want to end period poverty through service, advocacy and awareness. (Health determinant of sexual health literacy and access to education and supports to assist in personal hygiene with dignity)

Courageous Fire

Courageous Fireworks to address the issue and challenges of domestic violence in the AfricanAmerican community. This powerful nonprofit works to change the narrative and circumstances of Black women facing domestic violence situations. (Health determinant of violence avoidance/safety)

Vision to Learn

Vision To Learn (VTL) partners with school districts through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines the responsibilities of Vision To Learn and the district. Vision To Learn’s program model makes it easy for students to access eye care, and easy for schools to bring Vision To Learn to campus. Typical district responsibilities include coordinating consent forms for exams and escorting kids from the classroom to the mobile clinic. The program begins with vision screenings for all students, utilizing medically appropriate tools. This moves to the provision of vision screenings, eye exams and glasses to children in low-income communities, at no cost to the children or their families.(Health determinant of visual health literacy and the necessary tools to support proper vision for young people to gain confidence and learn easier through a successful, school-based health intervention)

Iowa Center for Children’s Justice

Iowa Center for Children'sJustice elevates children's views in custody matters and promotes child-focused solutions through legal representation, education and alternative dispute resolution. (Health determinant of youth trauma/resiliency focused on central Iowa)

Prevent Child Abuse Iowa

Prevent Child Abuse Iowa’s mission is to lead child abuse prevention efforts in Iowa through advocacy, awareness and assistance. (Health determinant of youth safety and new organizational leadership transition).

Eat Greater Des Moines

Eat Greater Des Moines works to provide access to healthy food for allIowans – working to identify, develop and connect resources with the broader community to support the entire food lifecycle in Central Iowa. (Health determinant of food access)

Iowa Public Health Association

IPHA is the voice of public health in Iowa through advocacy, membership services and partnerships. (Health determinant of health in all policies and health equity via public health capacity)

Iowa ACEs 360

Iowa ACEs 360 provides research, tools, and a network to empower Iowans to take informed actions that help all individuals heal from trauma and thrive for generations to come.  Together we can create compassionate communities that support all Iowans in life-long healthy development. (Health determinant around the complex challenges related to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation

Follows the guiding principles of integrating education, conservation, recreation and health to engage park users. (Health determinants of safe recreation, physical activity and water quality)

Prevent Child Abuse Iowa

Prevent Child Abuse Iowa’s mission is to lead child abuse prevention efforts in Iowa through advocacy, awareness and assistance. (Health determinant of youth safety and new organizational leadership transition).

Eat Greater Des Moines

Eat Greater Des Moines works to provide access to healthy food for allIowans – working to identify, develop and connect resources with the broader community to support the entire food lifecycle in Central Iowa. (Health determinant of food access)

Iowa ACEs 360

Iowa ACEs 360 provides research, tools, and a network to empower Iowans to take informed actions that help all individuals heal from trauma and thrive for generations to come.  Together we can create compassionate communities that support all Iowans in life-long healthy development. (Health determinant around the complex challenges related to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

Iowa Public Health Association

IPHA is the voice of public health in Iowa through advocacy, membership services and partnerships. (Health determinant of health in all policies and health equity via public health capacity)

Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation

Follows the guiding principles of integrating education, conservation, recreation and health to engage park users. (Health determinants of safe recreation, physical activity and water quality)

Iowa Center for Children’s Justice

Iowa Center for Children'sJustice elevates children's views in custody matters and promotes child-focused solutions through legal representation, education and alternative dispute resolution. (Health determinant of youth trauma/resiliency focused on central Iowa)

Great Outdoors Foundation

The Great Outdoors Foundation is Central Iowa’s pathway to sustainable, healthy environments. We are a regional conservation leader and a catalyst for high impact environmental projects. We convene partners with a shared vision, drive collaboration and raise awareness and funds. (Health determinants of safe recreation, physical space and water quality)

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