From the January 4, 2024 edition of the Remsen Bell-Enterprise

REMSEN — Cindy Harpenau is starting off the new year with a new position at Mid-Sioux. 

Harpenau has been at Mid-Sioux for 30 years as the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) and Maternal and Child Health project director, however, she is starting 2024 as the Executive Director.

Harpenau began her career as a neonatal intensive care nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City after graduating from Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota. She wanted to find more family-friendly hours that still involved helping others.

“I’ve never had a day where I’m bored at work,” said Harpenau. “Something is always changing with the programs or technology.”

Mid-Sioux started in 1965 and is one of 16 community action agencies in Iowa. The current operating budget of Mid-Sioux is $16 million with 125 employees. Community Action Agency programs include Headstart, WIC, maternal and child health, weatherization, crisis help, utilities assistance and more. 

Mid-Sioux covers five counties, Cherokee, Ida, Lyon, Plymouth, and Sioux, however, in October of 2022 the WIC and maternal and child health programs expanded to 10 more counties that extend up to Dickinson County. There is now a satellite office in Spencer.

“I will miss working at the WIC clinics and seeing families,” said Harpenau. “I’ve always had a passion for helping people and helping families become self-sufficient.”

Harpenau said she has enjoyed working with retiring Executive Director Dick Sievers and he has created a well-oiled machine at Mid-Sioux.

“He has built a legacy, and he’s built good relationships,” said Harpenau. “He’s left us in a sound situation, and there’s some big shoes to fill. He has great relationships with the project directors and the board of directors.”

Harpenau said Sievers has provided great leadership and a solid foundation for the entire Mid-Sioux workplace. There is also reorganization happening within the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), so she expects many opportunities and challenges ahead.

“Going into the (executive director) position my goal is to learn - not change,” said Harpenau. 

Harpenau and her husband Dean, a Remsen native, have three children and enjoy watching their kids at sporting events.

Residents of Northwest Iowa can contact any of the outreach offices in the five counties, by calling 1-800-859-2025 or by logging onto midsioux.org.