Launching a New Project in 2024

Hope Haven Ambassadors: Changing the Narrative

By 7017444915 • June 26, 2026
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others…” 1 Peter 4:10 At Hope Haven, we believe every person has God-given gifts to share. That belief is at the heart of the Hope Haven Ambassadors, a group of individuals served through Hope Haven’s My Day program who are learning to use their voices, share their stories, and advocate for themselves and others. The Ambassadors were formed in January 2025 after a community experience sparked a bigger conversation about inclusion, dignity, and the way individuals with disabilities are perceived. Since then, the group has been working to help change that narrative. The Ambassadors have presented to community groups, attended advocacy trainings, traveled to the Capitol, and spoken about issues that matter. Along the way, they are building confidence, developing leadership skills, and helping others understand that every person deserves to be included and respected. For Maggie, being an Ambassador is about helping her community see people with disabilities as equals. “I want individuals with disabilities to be treated as equal to everybody else,” she shared. “I want my community to know it’s okay to be different.” For Lori, the message is simple but powerful. “We are regular people who have different challenges,” she said. “I want to help my community understand that people with disabilities are not less of a person because of their disabilities.” For Octavio, advocacy means using his voice not only for himself, but also for others who may struggle to speak up for what they need. Through his experience with the Ambassadors, he has learned something important: “Our voice matters.” Programs like My Day are about so much more than daily activities. They are about friendship, confidence, purpose, community, and belonging. They create opportunities for people to discover their strengths, build relationships, serve others, and take part in the world around them. Your support helps us continue creating opportunities like the Hope Haven Ambassadors, where individuals can build confidence, share their stories, and discover the power of their voice. Your gift allows us to keep growing alongside those we serve, making an impact that lasts. If you wish to contribute, plea se CLICK HERE to donate today. Thank you for your continued support, prayers, and partnership in Hope Haven’s mission .
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Hope Haven is launching a new project in 2024 to help individuals manage their stress levels using a smartwatch app, a mobile app, and a dashboard. This particular smartwatch, also called a wearable, measures the individual’s stress levels. Hope Haven will use this technology in a 2-year pilot project, focusing on helping individuals currently served by Hope Haven who have difficulties expressing their stress and strong emotions in healthy and helpful ways.

Hope Haven learned about this opportunity through a company called Awake Labs while attending the 2023 Iowa Association of Community Providers Annual Conference (IACP). Awake Labs provides real-time information about individuals’ stress levels. When the wearable senses a heightened stress level on the individual, it sends an alert to the mobile device linked to the wearable. The responder on the mobile device will then answer some questions about the possible environmental, physical, and psychological factors that might be contributing to the increase in stress. The dashboard will track the information from the mobile device to help the team find trends and commonalities in the individual to help others better understand the needs of the individual using the wearable. This technology will provide Hope Haven the ability to teach individuals appropriate coping, relationship, and communication skills needed as a way to intervene before unhealthy behaviors escalate.

This two-year pilot project is funded by Elevance Health, a managed care organization that provides Medicaid health plans to Iowans. Hope Haven hopes to have individuals using the wearables this month. If the wearables prove to be an effective tool and help deescalate behaviors such as self-harming, physical aggression, or speaking in ways that could damage relationships, Hope Haven hopes to secure future funding to continue using the wearables even after the pilot is complete.

The technology used in the wearables is designed to support adults with mental illness or intellectual or developmental disabilities. “I think we can all relate to losing our cool and doing something that we regret,” explained Kimber Patterson, Director of Mental Health. “For some, they can find themselves in this position frequently, which can diminish their quality of life.” The recommended individuals who will use the wearable have varying levels of support from Hope Haven. “We hope that this technology will help those using it learn new ways to communicate and cope with stress in their lives so they can have an improved quality of life,” stated Patterson.

FEATURED BY: Amanda Friedrichsen, Rock Valley Bee

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