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Mid-Sioux December 2024 Newsletter

By MidSioux |   Jan 02, 2025

December 2024 | Volume 36; Issue 3

From the Executive Director's Desk
 

It is hard to believe it’s already December! The year seems to have flown by. As I look back, I am filled with gratitude and appreciation for all the Project Directors, Employees, and Board Members who have helped me as I transitioned into my new role as Executive Director. The transition has been both exciting and challenging, and I couldn’t have made it through without the incredible support of all of you.

 

December is a busy time of year with holiday activities, LiHEAP applications and the year-end financial audit. Applications for energy assistance are currently being accepted using a new database system, and while this transition has presented some challenges for staff, we are grateful for their patience and adaptability.

 

As we reflect on 2024, we’re not only looking back at the progress we’ve made but also anticipating the challenges and opportunities that the new year will bring. While the details of the upcoming legislative session remain uncertain, we remain hopeful and will embrace the opportunities it may present.

 

I am grateful for the teamwork and dedication of our staff, and I look forward to the upcoming successes and challenges in the year ahead.

 

Wishing you all a joyful and peaceful holiday season. May the new year bring you happiness, health, and success! 

 

Respectfully,

 

Cindy Harpenau

Executive Director

 

HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START/CDC
 

Head Start, Early Head Start and the Child Development Center provides services for pregnant women and children to age 5. These programs assist children and families to prepare for kindergarten by supporting their development in physical, cognitive, social, and emotional areas. 

 

Individualizing teaching strategies for each child's unique needs is essential for fostering their growth and development. Both the High Scope curriculum in center-based and the Parents as Teachers (PAT) curriculum in home-based programs are designed to support early childhood development. Teachers and home visitors collect information through on-going observation, recording and evaluation of each child’s growth and development utilizing the Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment. The Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment are scored three times throughout the year. Below are the GOLD outcomes for the first check point. This data is shared with families, used for program planning, creating lesson plans and professional development for staff.

 

Gold Category

Fall

(Below)

Fall

(Meeting or

Exceeding)

Social-Emotional

43%

57%

Physical

26%

74%

Language

45%

55%

Cognitive

40%

60%

Literacy

53%

47%

Math

52%

48%

HUMAN RESOURCES

 
View Our Current Openings

SIOUX & LYON COUNTY OUTREACH
 

Happy Holidays from the Sioux and Lyon County Outreach Offices!

Our offices have been very busy with LiHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program), our Christmas promotions and Embrace Iowa. 

LiHEAP Assistance

We are currently accepting applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LiHEAP). With winter weather settling in and temperatures expected to remain cold for the coming months, now is the time to apply for heating assistance. If you’re struggling with high heating costs, we’re here to help. Our team is ready to support you in managing your energy bills.

Federal income guidelines for eligibility are as follows:

Household Size

Annual Gros

1

$30,120

2

$40,880

3

$51,640

4

$62,400

5

$73,160

6

$83,920

7

$94,680

8

$105,440

Sioux County Christmas Meal Promotion

This holiday season, we were able to offer our low-income clients the opportunity to receive a Christmas meal. Each meal package included a ham, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, vegetables, rolls, cranberries, and pie. Our clients were able to pick up the meal and bring it home to cook for their families. Our Sioux County clients were so excited to be able to provide a wonderful meal for their families during the holidays.

 

Christmas Gift Promotion

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, who either donate monetarily or purchase gifts for our clients, we were able to provide gifts for 23 elderly and disabled individuals in Lyon County, as well as 138 individuals and families in Sioux County. It is wonderful to be able to provide gifts for those that may not be able to afford them this year.

 

Embrace Iowa Program

Through the Embrace Iowa Program, sponsored by the Des Moines Register, we receive funds to help our clients purchase items they may not be able to afford on their own. Clients can apply for a $750 grant, which, if selected, is paid directly to the vendor for their chosen items. These grants can cover things like new tires, car repairs, home appliances, or even medical and dental bills. This program helps provide a little extra support when it’s needed most.

 

How To Apply

If you're interested in applying for heating assistance or Embrace Iowa, please contact our office at 712-722-3611. 

 

How To Help

We are also in need of monetary assistance to help with our food pantry and crisis accounts. If you are interested in helping support our organization, you can send your monetary donation to:

 

Mid-Sioux Opportunity, Inc.

618 14th St. NE

Ste 10

Sioux Center, IA 51250. 

 

We would like to thank everyone for all their support in 2024 and look forward to partnering with you again in 2025!

you again in 2025!

Dashboards

 

Welcome to Mid-Sioux's Dashboards!

Stakeholders can now dive into our intuitive program dashboards for comprehensive data and insightful analysis. Let us guide you through the key trends and insights of our services.
View All Dashboards From Our About Us Webpage
 

418 S Marion St | Remsen, IA 51050 | 712-786-2001 | 800-859-2025

www.midsioux.org
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Tags
Mid-Sioux Opportunity ,
Inc. ,
December ,
2024 ,
Newsletter ,
LiHEAP ,
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program ,
Christmas
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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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