Keeping families together. Protecting the rights of parents and children.
Iowa Family Preservation Project is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to keeping families together—especially families with disabilities and those at risk of involvement with child protective services (CPS). We center disability rights, trauma awareness, and the lived experiences of families who have been harmed by the very systems that were supposed to help them.
Who We Are
We are survivors of the child welfare system, veterans, and military families who have been targeted, traumatized, and damaged by system failures.
Our own experiences navigating CPS, disability discrimination, and inaccessible services showed us how easily families can be separated—not because they are unsafe, but because they are misunderstood, unsupported, or denied their rights. Out of that pain, we built Iowa Family Preservation Project to stand beside families so they don’t have to face these systems alone.
Who We Serve
We support:
- Families at risk of CPS involvement
- Families currently involved with CPS or child welfare
- Disabled parents, caregivers, and children
- Veterans and military families navigating family regulation systems
- Families affected by policies or practices that place them at risk of unnecessary separation
We are based in Iowa and working to expand our advocacy and support nationally, collaborating with partners and allies across the United States.
What We Do
Our work focuses on both direct family advocacy and systems change:
- Family preservation advocacy
- Supporting parents and caregivers as they navigate CPS and child welfare
- Helping families understand their rights and options
- Centering safety, stability, and keeping children with their families whenever possible
- ADA and disability rights advocacy
- Pushing for reasonable accommodations for parents and children with disabilities
- Challenging discrimination in child welfare, education, and related systems
- Promoting disability-informed practice in every decision that affects a family
- Policy and systems change
- Identifying policies and practices that harm families—especially disabled families and military/veteran families
- Advocating for reforms that prioritize family preservation, equity, and accessibility
- Lifting up the voices and lived experiences of affected families in policy conversations
Why This Work Matters
Too often, families are separated not because they are unwilling to care for their children, but because they lack support, accommodations, and understanding. Disabled parents, children with disabilities, and military families can be especially vulnerable to being misjudged and over-scrutinized.
We believe:
- Poverty, disability, and trauma are not neglect.
- Families deserve meaningful support—not punishment.
- Children are safer and healthier when we preserve and strengthen their families whenever possible.
Our work is grounded in the belief that every family deserves a fair chance to stay safely together, with the right supports, accommodations, and advocacy in place.
Our Vision
- Family preservation is the default, not the exception
- CPS and child welfare systems are accountable, transparent, and disability-informed
- Veterans, military families, and disabled families are respected, not targeted
- Policies prioritize support, accessibility, and justice over surveillance and separation
How We Can Help
If you are:
- Worried about possible CPS involvement
- Already involved with CPS or child welfare
- A disabled parent or caregiver needing accommodations
- A veteran or military family feeling targeted or misunderstood by the system
…you do not have to walk through this alone.
We can:
- Help you understand your rights
- Support you in advocating for accommodations and services
- Connect you with resources and allies
- Stand with you as you work to keep your family together and your children safe