Thrive Iowa has come to Webster County.

Thrive Iowa is a new resource under the Iowa Department of Human Services that focuses on individuals and families in need of assistance. The Webster County launch was Friday at the Fort Dodge Community Schools Central Administration building.

A group of interested parties was welcomed by Superintendent Josh Porter.

The keynote speaker was Rep. Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge. Meyer is on the state Health and Human Services Committee and explained to the audience that Thrive Iowa is a closed loop system that will assist those in need by navigating through helping systems. In fact, those in Webster County who will work with Thrive Iowa will be called “navigators.”

County schools will be critical to Thrive Iowa. Funding will come from the federal and state governments with legislative oversight.

Fort Dodge Community Schools will be crucial in funds distribution. The school district was described by Alisa Schief, Webster County Thrive director, as the “backbone of the agency.”

Heather Edwards, of Restore Hope, spoke of the success of an Arkansas program that Thrive Iowa resembles.

Edwards recounted a young person helped by Restore Hope as saying, “No one ever told me I could succeed.”

Training events for Thrive Iowa will begin at 9 a.m. July 16.