December 2023 Volume 34; Issue 3
You can view the complete newsletter here.
From the Executive Director's Desk
It hardly seems possible. This will be my last article for the Mid-Sioux newsletter. I started with Mid-Sioux in February of 1980. The world has changed a great deal but many things seem to come back around as well. What I am certain of is the impact that Mid-Sioux has will grow as the years go forward.
My work with Mid-Sioux has provided me with the opportunity to travel, meet many people, and learn about our great country. I have to thank the Board of Directors, especially Richard Hatz and Tom Letsche for providing me with these experiences. They have both been great leaders and very supportive.
The staff at Mid-Sioux are the best. I learned a long time ago from one of our Weatherization workers that we accomplish nothing completely on our own. We all have a role to play and it is in working together when we accomplish the most.
Our current management staff have been awesome to work with. Cindy, Melissa, Tammy, Miranda, Kendra, Julie, and Laura do great work. They have challenged me in a most respectful way. What a great team they have been. I admire them more than I can say. Cindy Harpenau will be a strong, caring, and effective leader. I know she will keep the best interests of the staff, board, and families in mind at all times.
I wish that I could list everyone that I have worked with in this article because I truly appreciate and want to thank all of the folks I have worked with. Please know that I admire you all and wish you only wonderful things.
Of course, my wife Susan deserves a good deal of thanks for her endless support. Management is not without stress and I know without Sue I would have struggled during some of the most difficult moments. She is an amazing person.
As I leave the agency I will turn to the words of Abraham Lincoln to express how I have tried to serve Mid-Sioux. Mr. Lincoln said, “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he works and I like to see a man work so that his place is proud of him.”
Bless you all.
Dick Sievers
Executive Director
Thank you to Kemps, The Giving Cow Foundation, for their generous donation of $5,000. These funds will be used in Mid-Sioux’s Crisis Accounts to help families with rent, utility bills, medical bills, etc.
Pictured left to right: Bailey Henschen, Kemps Administrative Professional; Jeff Oetken, Kemps General Manager; Dick Sievers, Mid-Sioux Executive Director; Cindy Harpenau, Mid-Sioux WIC/Maternal Health Director; & DJ Ream, Kemps Training Specialist.
Human Resources
- Weatherization Director - Remsen
- Financial Management Consultant - Child Care Collaborative of Iowa Linn & Black Hawk Counties/Remote
- IQ4K Specialist - Child Care Resource & Referral Hybrid/Remote
- Team Leader/Teacher - LeMars, Early Head Start
- Classroom Aide/Bus Monitor - Cherokee, Head Start
- Classroom Aide (20 hours per week) - Rock Valley, Head Start
- WIC Professional (32-40 hours/week) - Remsen
- Breast Feeding Peer Counselor (16-18 hours per week) - Remsen, WIC
Head Start/Early Head Start
Birth-to-Five Early Head Start & Head Start Family & Child School Readiness Goals
The Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) Family and Child School Readiness Goals are developmentally appropriate and support the growth of children birth-5 years, including those with identified disabilities. The following goals are used to help a family and child succeed in their educational years to come:
Social-Emotional
Children will exhibit socially and developmentally appropriate behaviors and skills such as problem-solving, sharing, appropriate play, and appropriate peer interactions.
Cognition and Approaches to Learning
Children will attend, engage, persist, and show curiosity in developmentally appropriate activities including flexibility and inventiveness in thinking.
English Language Learners/Language
Children will be able to follow routine and simple directions with minimal cues or assistance and to express thoughts and needs appropriately. Such as cooing, crying, naming familiar people, using some words, and up to complex sentences with 4-6 words.
Literacy
Children will exhibit age-appropriate early writing skills such as scribbles, marks, or letter-like shapes, invented spelling, recognizing 10+ letters, and some sounds.
Gross Motor/Physical
Children will exhibit age-appropriate traveling skills, such as rolling over, crawling, cruising, walking, or pushing objects.
Fine Motor/Physical
Children will demonstrate fine motor coordination using fingers and hands such as batting, pointing, buttoning, tearing, poking, cutting, tracing, coloring, or pasting.
Math/Science
Children will be able to count with 1-to-1 correspondence and have beginning comparison and classification skills (recognize basic colors and shapes).
Self-Care/Physical
Children will exhibit age-appropriate independence in personal care tasks such as beginning toileting skills, washing hands, brushing teeth, etc.
Health/Nutrition
- Children will be current on immunizations.
- children will have a medical and dental home and be current with well-child checks and dental exam.
- Children will have a current vision and hearing screen.
- Children will have a current lead test.
Family Well-Being
- Families will have their basic needs met: food, clothing and shelter.
- Families will be provided with evidence-based materials and activities to assist in a safe environment.
Positive Parent-Child Relationships
Families will enhance their parenting skills.
Families as Lifelong Educators
Families will participate, engage, and advocate in their child’s continuing education.
Families as Learners
- Families will be supported in life and educational goals.
- Families will be encouraged to volunteer in program and community.
Families Engagement in Transitions
Families will participate through the transition activities.
Family Connections to Peers & Community
Families will be connected to community resources/program opportunities.
Families as Advocates and Leaders
Families will be encouraged to participate in program/community meetings/committees.
Early Head Start and Head Start serves pregnant women, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in their home or in a safe, educational center. All services are free to eligible families.
Your child deserves a Head Start in their education future! Contact Mid-Sioux Opportunity at 800-859-2025 or see us online at: www.midsioux.org
Women, Infants & Children (WIC)
A Supplemental Nutrition Program for:
- Infants
- Children up to the age of 5
- Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have had a baby in the last 6 months
Supplemental Nutritious Foods Include:
- Milk
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Bread
- Brown Rice
- Peanut Butter
- Baby Food
- Baby Formula
For Nutrition Education, Breastfeeding Support & Health Care Referrals Call: 1-800-859-2025