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From the Executive Director's Desk
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Spring is finally here! As the days get longer and the weather warms up, it brings along a sense of energy and excitement, knowing we can look forward to more sunshine and outdoor activities!
The first quarter of the year has been busy across all of our programs. From Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LiHEAP), the finalization of our audit, to Head Start enrollment, Early Childhood Iowa funding changes, new Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) positions and changes to the WIC food packages, our staff have remained dedicated to meeting the needs of the individuals and families we serve.
We are pleased to share that the audit for the year ending September 30, 2024, was once again completed with no compliance issues. Thank you to Tammy Nilles and the fiscal staff for their work in preparing for the audit – and thank you to all our staff for your continued commitment to our agency!
The continuing resolution (CR) recently signed by Congress and President Trump ensures government funding through September 30, 2025, aligning with the end of our fiscal year. The CR maintains funding for many of our key programs, including the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), LiHEAP, Head Start and Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), all at FY2024 levels.
Several of our staff have had the opportunity to meet with state legislators in recent months. These conversations are vital in helping decision-makers understand both the challenges our communities face and the positive impact of our services.
We are currently conducting a Stakeholder Community Needs Assessment to help guide our agency’s planning, development, and prioritization of programs and services. Your input is valuable – please take a few minutes to complete the survey below!
Plans are also underway for our agency’s Annual Meeting, which will take place on May 2nd. This is one time of the year when we have the opportunity to meet with all agency staff. We’re excited to have the Iowa Community Action Association join us to lead a poverty simulation, and we’ll also recognize employees and board members for their years of service. It’s a great opportunity to thank those who have made an impact on our agency and the families we serve.
Wishing you a safe and sunny spring!
Respectfully,
Cindy Harpenau
Executive Director
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Iowa's Community Action Network is conducting a study to better understand our community needs.
The data and information gathered from the Stakeholder Community Needs Assessment will help guide our agency’s planning, development, and prioritization of programs and services for the people in our communities.
We kindly ask for your support by completing this brief survey, which should take approximately 11 minutes to complete. Most questions are multiple choice, with a few open-ended questions where you can provide detailed responses. If you serve or work in multiple counties, feel free to complete the survey for each county where you have professional or lived experience.
All replies are anonymous and will be treated confidentially.
To complete the survey, you can:
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Thank you for your participation. Your feedback is very valuable to us.
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Pictured left to right: Laura (Family Resource Director), Katie (FaDSS Specialist), Senator Evans, April (FaDSS Specialist), & Julie (FaDSS Specialist)
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FaDSS Day on the Hill was held at the Capitol on March 12th. Although it was rescheduled from February, it was one of the best weather days we have had when traveling to the Capitol. A rally was held in the rotunda with Madisen, a Mid-Sioux FaDSS participant, sharing her story. We were able to speak to several of our area legislators about the importance of the program and how it has made an impact on so many Iowa families.
Below are some Mid-Sioux Opportunity statistics from fiscal year ‘24 we were able to share with our legislators:
- Mid-Sioux Opportunity, Inc. FaDSS staff completed 461 home and quality visits and 1,120 significant contacts with families.
- 71% of families enrolled in the Mid-Sioux FaDSS program left the program with an increase in their income.
- 36% of families were employed at time of entry and 75% were employed at time of exit from the program.
- 54% of families participating in FaDSS were involved in activities to increase their work preparedness skills.
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Pictured left to right: Katie (FaDSS Specialist), Madisen (FaDSS Participant), Senator Alons & Laura (Family Resource Director)
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We’re excited to share a few important updates from the Fiscal Department!
First, please join us in giving a warm welcome to Nicole Bush, who joined our team at the end of December. Nicole is happy to assist with any questions you may have.
As we enter the seventh month of our fiscal year, we're also preparing for the end of the State’s fiscal year in June. Our team has been busy meeting with departments to review and project budgets—both for grants wrapping up in June and for the upcoming fiscal year.
In the midst of our usual monthly and quarterly reporting, we’re also working behind the scenes to implement a new fiscal software system. Additionally, we're gearing up to roll out a new HR/Payroll system soon. Our goal is to have both platforms live by late summer, just in time to start on the annual audit.
Thank you for your continued collaboration as we make these exciting transitions!
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Thank you for your continued collaboration as we make these exciting transitions!
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CHEROKEE COUNTY OUTREACH
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The Cherokee Outreach office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Households needing assistance with food may pick up baskets during this time.
LiHEAP: We continue to take applications for the Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LiHEAP) through April. These applications can be done very easily over the telephone and supporting documentation can be provided to us by fax, email, or text. It only takes a few minutes!
Head Start: We’ve begun taking Head Start applications for the upcoming preschool season (September 2025 through May 2026). Head Start is a free, federally funded program for preschool children. It provides children with activities that help them grow mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically. If you know of anyone that has children 3-4 years of age, please send them our way!
WIC Services: We can help anyone interested in signing up for WIC services in Cherokee County. WIC is for pregnant women, infants, and children under the age of 5. WIC provides information on how to keep your family healthy. They also assist with purchasing nutritious food for your family.
For all program applications, please give us a call. We can tell you everything you need to bring to complete an application. Our phone number in Cherokee is 712-225-3322 or you can email: nmier@midsioux.org.
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Thank you!
Cherokee County Pork Producers, in conjunction with the Iowa Pork Producers Association, recently donated ground pork to help complete our monthly food baskets.
Pictured are Janet Sullivan and Marla Conley with the Cherokee County Pork Producers.
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HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START
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Representative Bossman had the opportunity to discuss childcare needs in Iowa with Kendra Rensink, Head Start Director for Mid-Sioux Opportunity, Inc.
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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.
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418 S Marion St | Remsen, IA 51050 | 712-786-2001 | 800-859-2025
www.midsioux.org
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