(Radio Iowa) – The head of Iowa’s Department of Health and Human Services says she’s developing partnerships with Iowa pastors and churches to help for Iowans facing personal challenges. H-H-S director Kelly Garcia says government is an incredibly powerful force for good, but it doesn’t need to be involved in everything.

Garcia says foster care and services for disabled Iowans are core government functions that no one else can do, but Garcia says her agency has found a team of church leaders eager to step into other gaps.

Garcia says the partnership with The Family Leader’s church ambassador network has exceeded her expectations and is addressing social isolation and a lack of hope that are all too common among Iowans who need her agency’s services.

Iowa Dept. of Health and Human Services director Kelly Garcia speaking at The Family Leader’s annual summit on July 11, 2025. (RI photo)

Garcia spoke today (Friday) at The Family Leader’s annual summit. Greg Baker, the group’s V-P of church engagement, says the evangelical church is ready to dive into the social service side of government and it will outperform expectations.

Vander Plaats says a record number of pastors and congregations are represented today (Friday) at the group’s annual summit.

Governor Kim Reynolds and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders are scheduled to speak at the event later this (Friday) afternoon.