Mission & Vision
Our Mission: To provide a continuum of services to Iowa’s Veterans and their eligible family members to enhance their quality of life.
Our Vision:To fulfill the promise made to Iowa’s Veterans who took the oath to defend the constitution of the United States.
"From Oath to Taps" > We seek to serve Iowa's Veterans and their families from the day they take their oath through every phase of life, and beyond the day their loved ones hear "Taps" played for their service member.
Organization Overview: Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs
The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) is an executive branch agency of Iowa state government. Established to centralize and elevate the state's support for military veterans, the department acts as the primary conduit between Iowa's veteran population, federal resources, and local county programs.
Statutory Authority & Governance
The department operates under the statutory authority of the Iowa Code. It is overseen by the Commandant of the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs appointed by the Governor of Iowa.
Strategic oversight, Iowa Veterans Trust Fund decisions, Iowa Veterans Project Grant decisions, policy advice, and administrative rules are reviewed by the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs, an 13-member supervisory body appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate.
Departmental Structure
Headquartered at Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, IDVA manages three distinct operational areas, each serving a specific phase of a veteran’s life:
Benefits Division (Camp Dodge)
- Location: Johnston, IA
- Function: Serves as the central repository for military discharge records (DD-214s) for Iowa veterans. This division administers state-funded financial assistance programs, such as the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund and the Injured Veterans Grant Program.
- County Allocation: Manages the training and state certification of County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs) across Iowa's 99 counties, ensuring localized, accredited advocacy.
The Iowa Veterans Home (IVH - Marshalltown)
- Location: Marshalltown, IA
- Function: Founded in 1887, IVH is one of the largest state-owned veterans homes in the United States. It provides a full continuum of care—including independent living, skilled nursing, and long-term rehabilitative care—exclusively for qualified Iowa veterans, their spouses, and Gold Star parents.
The Iowa Veterans Cemetery (IVC)
- Location: Adel, IA (Van Meter area)
- Function: Dedicated in 2008, IVC is Iowa's first state-owned and operated veterans cemetery. Developed through a federal grant, the cemetery adheres to the strict operational standards of the National Cemetery Administration, providing honorable and dignified burial services to eligible veterans and their dependents at no cost to the family.
Historical Timeline & Evolution
- 1887: The Iowa Soldiers' Home opens in Marshalltown to care for Civil War veterans (later renamed the Iowa Veterans Home).
- 1978: The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs is first established by the Iowa Legislature to consolidate veteran programs.
- 1992: The agency is reorganized as a division under the Iowa Department of Public Defense.
- 2005: Legislation restores IDVA to a standalone, Cabinet-level department to ensure veterans have a direct voice in the Governor's administration.
- 2008: The Iowa Veterans Cemetery is officially dedicated, marking the first time the state could provide a dedicated resting place for its military heroes.