ChildServe

A journey fueled by love. As an infant, all odds were against Dalton as he faced life-threatening hardships. He was adopted by his parents and has since thrived with their love and support. The family partnered with ChildServe and found a support system full of hope, joy, love, and endless opportunities for Dalton. A special thank you to our friends at Flynn Wright for helping capture Dalton's impactful story, which debuted at #BubbleBall yesterday. Mark your calendars for next year's event taking place on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at the Iowa Events Center. #GreatLife #TransformingLives #BubbleBallDSM #BubbleWrap Learn more about ChildServe Homes at https://lnkd.in/gZEPq6ft. Video: Video of Dalton and his family.

Dressed to impress! A few dashing individuals from ChildServe's group homes and their team members enjoyed an elegant summer ball! 👑🎶 Lords and ladies gathered to spend an afternoon listening to classy music, snacking on refreshments, playing games and dancing alongside other distinguished guests. Shoutout to the very honorable ChildServe group home team members who organized this truly remarkable event, including Queen Charlotte, who made a lovely appearance! To learn more about ChildServe’s Homes, visit https://lnkd.in/gkb5SqBP. #SummerAtChildServe #GreatLife #ChildServe Images: Individuals we serve and team members enjoying the ball festivities.

Today marks National Intern Day, and ChildServe is grateful to have 18 outstanding interns joining us this summer! Today and every day, we appreciate their help and support in living out our mission. Thank you to our interns for their dedication and positive impact at ChildServe! (insert emoji of your choice) This summer, ChildServe has interns from schools all over the Midwest and beyond, including Baylor University, Creighton University, Allen College, St. Ambrose University, Drake University, University of Iowa, Calvin University, Emerson College, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Iowa State University, Grand View University, Luther College and Wartburg College. At ChildServe, we love sharing our mission with interns and partnering with universities to give students experience working at a specialty pediatric healthcare provider. To learn more about ChildServe’s career opportunities, visit https://lnkd.in/g3vx9Ew. #NationalInternDay #TopWorkplace #ChildServe #GreatLife #WorkThatMatters #CelebrateYourGreat Image: ChildServe’s summer interns.

Hitting a hole-in-one at the Iowa Amputee Golf Association tournament? That's our cup of TEE! ⛳️ 🏌️ ChildServe team members from our Orthotics and Prosthetics programs attended the Iowa Amuptee Annual Golf Tournament at the Willow Creek Golf Course. The event invited amputees from all walks of life to enjoy a day of golf and camaraderie. We were glad to support this event while spreading the word about how ChildServe can support individuals from birth to 21 years old who experience a limb loss or a limb difference. #GreatLife #ChildServe Images: ChildServe team members and event attendees at the golf course.

Believing in the spirit of a child... that's something Dr. Fred Klingbeil has done his entire career. 💜 After 33 years in the field of pediatric rehabilitation, ChildServe‘s beloved pediatric physiatrist, Dr. Fred Klingbeil, will be moving on to a well-deserved retirement in December 2024. In recognition of the last 10 years of his career spent changing the lives of children with special healthcare needs in Iowa, we're excited to announce Dr. Fred has received one of ChildServe‘s most prestigious awards – the Spirit of ChildServe award! Learn more about Dr. Fred's recognition and retirement at https://lnkd.in/gXkNVYfh. 🎉 Looking to say “Thank you” to Dr. Fred for making an impact on your family? Submit thank you messages or stories of impact to communications@childserve.org by Oct. 1, 2024. After a national search, we're thrilled to welcome Dr. Rachel Blankenship as Dr. Fred Klingbeil’s successor. Learn more about the Des Moines native returning to the area to help bring our mission to life! ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gqHKhVpb. #ChildServe #GreatLife #TransformingLives Image: ChildServe kid, Rylie, poses with Dr. Fred Klingbeil as he receives the Spirit of ChildServe award.

We're over the moon excited to share that our 3rd annual Launch + Learn event in Iowa City raised over $37,000 to help children with special healthcare needs live a #greatlife! 💜🚀 The event raised awareness for the organization – and donations to help fund the creation of a music therapy pilot program at ChildServe. “Music therapy is a valuable service that many families seek out for their children,” said Rachel Kongshaug, Rehabilitation Manager. “Research shows that music activates the brain and positively impacts learning. We're thrilled to have an opportunity to enrich our therapy and autism programs through music therapy." A special thank you to GreenState Credit Union, Clark & Associates, West Music Company, Jennifer Bleil, CBI Bank & Trust, Hunter Companies, Nolte Academy, Fareway Stores, Inc., Hills Bank and Trust Company, Rinderknecht Associates, Inc., McGrath Family of Dealerships, Wired Production Group and University of Iowa Health Care. Learn more about the ways you can support ChildServe's mission at https://lnkd.in/gvzVuq7s. #TransformingLives #FeelGoodFriday #ChildServe Images: Photos of ChildServe team members and event attendees at Launch + Learn 2024.

Grief is a topic many of the families we serve face in different ways. It's hard to process, talk about and accept, but knowing you are not alone in this journey can be the first step. 💜 As the mom of a teenager with special healthcare needs, Joy Harris has years of experience on the journey of grief and joy – which are often closely intertwined. Read about what Joy, a member of ChildServe’s Family Advisory Council, has to say about her personal story with grief, gratitude and all of the pieces of joy that have come with her family's journey. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eGdrriyH #ForwardTogetherBlog #GreatLife #ChildServe

3-year-old Rosa displays a remarkable amount of strength and courage. From facing unique hardships at birth to her adoption that moved her across the world to become part of a brand-new family, little Rosa has overcome many obstacles and had unique experiences most of us won’t face in a lifetime. In October 2023, Rosa moved from Bulgaria to Iowa after being adopted. She was welcomed with an amazing support system and family unit, ready to help care for her. Shortly after, Rosa’s family found ChildServe, where Rosa began specialty outpatient therapy services at ChildServe – Des Moines. “ChildServe has been so supportive in dedicating their efforts to Rosa’s care,” Josh, Rosa’s dad said. “It was tough knowing what she needed because we had no history with her, and the medical system in Bulgaria wasn't able to help her. There were a lot of unknowns bringing a two-year-old home with special healthcare needs who didn't speak English. Thankfully, ChildServe has been able to get her care started quickly, adapt with us, and be flexible with her care as we all learn things about her and her needs.” Rosa has several complex medical needs including Grand Mal Seizures and hyperkinetic activity (high levels of motor activity and restlessness) that have delayed her development. Her medical complexities make it challenging for her to complete different tasks due to limitations in her mobility and neurological processing. A few of these challenges include difficulty walking, making accurate movements with her hands, communicating and learning new concepts. After settling Rosa into her new life, the family’s biggest goals for her were to gain skills to live more independently, complete daily tasks and progress in her development. Rosa’s occupational and physical therapists at ChildServe work together to create a treatment plan unique to her diagnosis and personality. “Rosa has increased her physical strength and is now walking, running, and climbing more efficiently, which lowers her risk of falling and getting hurt and improves her confidence level,” Josh said. “We've seen her progress in therapy help her work harder, learn patience and perseverance, and achieve daily tasks.” In the last few months, Rosa’s life has been completely transformed with the help of her family and the therapy team at ChildServe. Even through an incredible life-changing transition, Rosa’s joyful and positive attitude continues to shine. “Our partnership with ChildServe has truly been crucial to Rosa’s progress,” said Josh. “While it has been heartbreaking to know Rosa experienced so many difficulties before coming to the U.S., somehow she is always joyful. We’re so proud of Rosa for her happy heart and perseverance." Keep up the awesome work, Rosa! Learn more about ChildServe’s outpatient therapy program at https://lnkd.in/e8ev5_Q4.

Lots of smiles here at ChildServe this summer! 😎 ☀️ #SummerAtChildServe #ChildServe #greatlife Video: Kids and team members from different ChildServe services smiling at the camera and wearing sunglasses.

TWO infinity and beyond – is exactly where the new Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit has taken us over the past two years! 🚀 We are beyond grateful to celebrate the 2nd birthday of our Inpatient Pediatric Rehab Unit! 🥳 Since opening the new unit, we've made a difference for nearly 100 children and their families. Thank you to the team members, families, donors and sponsors who have made the new Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit a success. Our new unit has enhanced the rehabilitation journey for each individual we serve and will enable more lives to be changed for years to come. Learn more about ChildServe's Rehab Unit at https://lnkd.in/g6NUVQjR. #ChildServe #TransformingLives #GreatLife Video: A tour of the Rehab Unit at ChildServe in Johnston, IA.