Families Forward
Non-profit OrganizationsIowa, United States11-50 Employees
Families Forward is a Des Moines-based nonprofit formed in July 2023 through the merger of Bidwell Riverside Center and Hawthorn Hill. It unites four longtime programs—Bidwell Pantry, the Child Development Center, New Directions Shelter, and The Home Connection—into a coordinated suite of services aimed at helping families achieve self-sufficiency. The organization serves families and children in the Des Moines metro area, addressing housing stability, food insecurity, child development needs, and shelter support. It operates within the nonprofit sector, focusing on family-facing services and community-based assistance. In July 2025, Families Forward appointed Pascha A. Morgan as Shelter Manager for New Directions Shelter.