June 2024 Volume 34; Issue 10

You can view the complete newsletter here.

 

From the Executive Director's Desk

June is the last month of the state fiscal year. With several of our contracts closing June 30, staff have been busy monitoring expenditures and preparing to close out the FY’24 contracts as well as finalizing negotiations for FY’25 contracts. The reorganization of state government, which consolidated the Iowa Department of Human Services and the Iowa Department of Public Health, has created changes in some of our programs. Staff are working on making adjustments to ensure compliance with these changes.

Head Start classrooms are closed for the summer and management staff are busy preparing for the new school year. We are looking forward to filling the new Child Care Resource & Referral positions that are possible due to the new contracts we were awarded. WIC staff are busy with distributing Farmer’s Market checks to participants. Unfortunately, we have areas with very few, if any, approved Farmer’s Markets, which makes it difficult for participants to be able to take advantage of purchasing extra fruits and vegetables. While LiHEAP applications are no longer being processed, offices are busy processing crisis and food assistance requests. 

Mid-Sioux’s annual golf fundraiser in Sioux Center was a success and we were fortunate to have a beautiful day to be on the golf course! Thank you to the teams who supported the fundraiser and to Melany Rolling for organizing the event!

I hope you are all enjoying the beautiful summer weather and are finding time to be with your family and friends! Please stay safe if you are in an area affected by heavy rainfall and flooding.

Cindy Harpenau
Executive Director

 

Congratulations to our 2024 Richard Hatz Scholarship recipients!

  Lauren Geerdes

Lauren will be graduating from Central Lyon High School in May of 2024. Lauren plans to attend the University of Iowa and major in Biochemistry or Biology on a pre-medicine track. She hopes one day to donate her services to the less fortunate.

  Emilee Sue Miller

Emilee will graduate from Cherokee Washington High School in May of 2024. She plans to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and major in Elementary Education. Her goal is to become “the teacher kids remember.”

 

Child Care Resource & Referral

Congratulations to Amber Kollbaum for achieving her I-Consult Credential and Dawn Badker for I-Consult Mentor Credential. I-Consult is a professional development system developed by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach supporting consultants employed by Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral. Child Care Consultants work closely with early childhood programs to identify program strengths and problem solve challenges. They are a valuable resource to help improve the quality of care for Iowa’s children.

Amber Kollbaum participated in the I-Consult Credentialing program this past year. The process required Consultants to reflect upon, document, and demonstrate their skills in consultation in four content areas by linking their practices to the I-Consult competencies. She participated in four credentialing workshops, developed a professional portfolio, and received feedback from her mentor and clients regarding her practice.

Dawn Badker completed the I-Consult Mentor Credentialing program which prepared her to mentor other consultants. Dawn developed skills in the areas of co-creating relationships, observation, supporting reflection, giving feedback, and action planning. She participated in four mentor credentialing workshops, developed a professional portfolio, and worked in partnership with Iowa State University to mentor a consultant working towards their Consultation Credential. 

 

Outreach

Ida County Outreach - Although it feels like summer has just begun, we are already gearing up for our Back-to-School program! Once again, we will be providing income-eligible families with backpacks and essential school supplies to kick off the new school year. These items will be distributed to families in August. Letters have been sent out to potential sponsors and families in Ida County. If you know a family in need of assistance, please direct them to us to complete an application.

Our program would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. Local businesses, churches, organizations, and families partner with us by donating funds, enabling us to purchase the necessary supplies. The feedback from families and schools in past years has been overwhelmingly positive. If you or someone you know would like to sponsor a child in need this year, please contact our Central Office at 1-800-859-2025 and ask to speak to Laura.

All Outreach offices are still accepting applications for past-due rent and utility assistance, as well as for the Head Start and Weatherization programs.

Our Ida Grove Outreach office is open every Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can reach us at: 712-364-2175 on Thursdays.

Assistance is also available through our Cherokee Outreach office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays by calling: 712-225-3322.

 

Human Resources

Mid-Sioux Opportunity, Inc. employment opportunities:  View Openings Here

Thanks to our amazing staff, guests and scholarship recipients for making our 2024 Annual Meeting such a fantastic celebration. We truly appreciate all the hard work and dedication over the past year!  View Event Pictures Here

 

Resource Requests

Click the picture or visit this link to request Mid-Sioux resources!

 
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MidSioux

Mid-Sioux Opportunity, Inc. is a not-for-profit Community Action Agency established in 1965 to fight poverty at a local level by assisting low-income families in Northwest Iowa to become self-sufficient.

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