Senator Sarah Trone Garriott, 2021 Voice for Children Award

State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott represents the communities of Windsor Heights, Clive, Waukee, and the Dallas County portion of West Des Moines. She was first elected to the Senate in 2020.

As she has demonstrated in the State Senate, Sarah has always felt called to serve. From joining AmeriCorps right out of college, to helping victims of domestic violence, serving as a hospital chaplain, and becoming a Lutheran minister, to stepping into nonprofit leadership. This same sense of call is also what inspired Sarah to become a state senator. 



As a parent of two sons, Sarah’s passionate about many issues that impact quality of life for Iowa’s children and their families especially those who are most vulnerable and struggle to get access to the resources and care they need to thrive. Issues she advocates for include, but are not limited to mental health, state-supported childcare, public education, affordable housing, and livable wages.

Sarah serves on the Senate Health and Human Services Budget subcommittee, which sets state funding levels for many of the programs that Orchard Place provides. Sarah was a strong advocate for much-needed rate relief for the state’s PMICS (Psychiatric Medical Institutes for Children). This rate relief allowed us to increase wages for our staff at Orchard Place Campus who provide treatment in a highly structured residential setting for youth with intensive mental, behavioral, and/or psychiatric needs.

In appreciation for Sarah’s leadership and advocacy, Orchard Place is pleased to recognize her with our 2021 Voice of the Children Award.