Trans Resource Navigator

Local help in Des Moines

Part of Iowa.Iowa document routeCare rules in Iowa

Des Moines has the largest cluster of trans-affirming services in Iowa: two primary care clinics that prescribe hormones (UnityPoint's LGBTQ+ clinic and UCS Healthcare), Planned Parenthood's Susan Knapp Health Center, free HIV and STI testing and PrEP at The Project, and the statewide advocacy group One Iowa. Name change petitions for Polk County residents are e-filed with the Polk County District Court.

Covers: Polk County and the Des Moines metro (including West Des Moines, Urbandale, and Ankeny)

Draft list from organizations' own websites, 2026-09-24. Call ahead: hours and services change.

On this page
  1. Where to file
  2. Name change and ID help
  3. Hormones and primary care
  4. Sexual health, PrEP, and testing
  5. Mental health and support
  6. Sources

Where to file a name change

Court
Iowa District Court for Polk County (Fifth Judicial District)[1][2][3]
Filing fee
$215
Free help with forms
Court self-help center

Can’t afford the fee? How fee waivers work in Iowa

Filing tips for this courtFile electronically through Iowa Courts eFile. The Clerk of Court is at the Polk County Courthouse, 500 Mulberry Street, Room 212, Des…

File electronically through Iowa Courts eFile. The Clerk of Court is at the Polk County Courthouse, 500 Mulberry Street, Room 212, Des Moines (515-561-5718, countyclerk.polk@iowacourts.gov); staff can point you to public eFile computers but cannot give legal advice. Polk County has more than 98,000 residents, so an extra $5 journal publication fee may be added to the $215 filing fee.

Name change and ID help 4

  • Lavender Legal Center[4]

    Iowa nonprofit law office by and for LGBTQ+ people; direct representation and referrals, with priority for people with low income and LGBTQ+ youth. Email info@lavenderlegal.org.

    • Cost varies

  • Iowa Legal Aid[5]

    Free civil legal help for people with low income, with an office in Des Moines. Ask whether they can help with a name change.

    • Free
    • Community reported
    515-243-1193

  • One Iowa[6][5]

    Des Moines-based statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy organization. Keeps directories of affirming health, mental health, and legal resources, publishes a guide to SF 418, refers people to LGBTQ-friendly attorneys, and collects discrimination reports (report@oneiowa.org).

    • Free
    515-288-4019

  • Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund[15]

    Monthly grants for gender-affirming care for trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse Iowans. Applications open the first week of each month; email itmaf@proton.me.

    • Free

Hormones and primary care 4

  • UnityPoint Clinic LGBTQ+ Health[7]

    Primary care with gender-affirming hormone therapy for ages 19 and up, surgery support, voice therapy, PrEP, and STI care. Evening clinic hours; request an appointment online or leave a voicemail.

    • Insurance
    515-279-64242103 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312

  • UCS Healthcare, LGBTQIA+ Health[8]

    West Des Moines nonprofit clinic offering hormone replacement therapy, a PrEP clinic, HIV and STI testing, mental health counseling, psychiatry, and substance use treatment. Weekdays 8:30 am to 5 pm; telehealth for many services.

    • Cost varies
    • Telehealth

  • Planned Parenthood, Des Moines Susan Knapp Health Center[9][10]

    Informed-consent gender-affirming hormone therapy for patients 18 and older (in person or telehealth), plus STI testing and treatment, PrEP, and birth control. Call 877-859-0542.

    • Cost varies
    • Telehealth
    • Sees uninsured patients
    877-859-05422304 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50311

  • Primary Health Care[13]

    Federally funded community health center with several Des Moines-area clinics, a sliding fee discount program, behavioral health, and an on-site pharmacy. Call to ask whether a provider prescribes gender-affirming hormones.

    • Sliding scale
    • Accepts Medicaid
    • Sees uninsured patients
    515-248-1447

Sexual health, PrEP, and testing 1

  • The Project at Primary Health Care[11][12]

    Free, confidential rapid HIV testing and STI screening (weekdays), PrEP and PEP, HIV care, case management, and insurance navigation, regardless of insurance or ability to pay. 1200 University Ave, Suite 120.

    • Free
    • Sees uninsured patients
    515-248-15951200 University Ave, Suite 120, Des Moines, IA 50314

Mental health and support 2

  • Iowa Safe Schools[14]

    Des Moines-based statewide organization supporting LGBTQ youth, their families, and GSAs, with youth events and a list of 24/7 hotlines.

    • Free

  • Trans Lifeline[16]

    Peer-support hotline run by and for trans people, 877-565-8860.

    • Free
    877-565-8860Languages: English, Español

Sources

16 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.Show all
  1. Polk, Judicial District 5Iowa Judicial Branch, Court. accessed
    “Clerk of Court 500 Mulberry Street Room 212 Des Moines, IA 50309 Phone 515-561-5718”
  2. Civil Court FeesIowa Judicial Branch, Court. accessed
    “Name Change ... $215. In counties over 98,000 in population an additional $5 publication fee may be charged.”
  3. Name ChangeIowa Judicial Branch, Court. accessed
  4. Lavender Legal CenterOrganization. accessed
  5. Iowa Civil Rights Removal Act Implementation GuideOne Iowa, Organization. accessed
  6. UnityPoint Clinic LGBTQ+ HealthUnityPoint Health, Organization. accessed
    “Gender-affirming hormone therapy (19 years and older).”
  7. LGBTQIA+ Health at UCSUCS Healthcare, Organization. accessed
  8. Des Moines, Susan Knapp Health CenterPlanned Parenthood North Central States, Organization. accessed
    “2304 University Avenue Des Moines, IA 50311. Call 877-859-0542.”
  9. Gender-affirming care, transgender hormone therapyPlanned Parenthood North Central States, Organization. accessed
    “Patients in Iowa and South Dakota must be at least 18-years-old to qualify for this service.”
  10. The Project at Primary Health CareOrganization. accessed
    “1200 University Ave.,”
  11. Services, Prevention, Testing and HIV CareThe Project at Primary Health Care, Organization. accessed
  12. Primary Health CareOrganization. accessed
  13. Iowa Safe SchoolsOrganization. accessed
  14. Apply for AidIowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund, Organization. accessed
  15. Trans LifelineOrganization. accessed