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From the Executive Director's Desk
Happy New Year! I hope each of you had a wonderful holiday season, filled with time to relax and enjoy family and friends. As we step into 2026, I’m filled with gratitude for the dedication and hard work of our staff and the continued support from our communities.
Over the past year, we have seen our programs grow and evolve to meet the changing needs of the families we serve. At the same time, our staff have persevered through the challenges and uncertainties caused by the federal government shutdown and ongoing funding discussions. Their dedication and flexibility have ensured that essential services continued without interruption, supporting families, children, and communities across our service area. We are grateful to every employee for their hard work, commitment, and compassion, which enable our agency to thrive even in times of uncertainty.
Our fiscal staff have successfully transitioned to the Sage Intacct system. They are finalizing the setup of monthly budget reports for each program and beginning work on future financial forecasting. We have also implemented ADP Payroll. While a few minor issues remain, we sincerely appreciate everyone’s patience during this transition.
As of January, we are operating under a continuing resolution until the end of the month while Congress finalizes the federal budget for 2026. We are closely monitoring developments and remain engaged in advocacy to ensure continued support for the essential programs our communities rely on. In the coming months, several of our program staff will visit the state capital to meet with legislators, share the impact of our programs, and discuss the needs of families across our service area.
We also want to thank our local governments and partners for their ongoing support. Laura Benson and I have presented information about our programs and budget requests at the Board of Supervisors meetings in each of our five counties, and we are grateful for the strong relationships we have built over the years.
As we look ahead to 2026, we remain committed to providing essential services, advocating for families, and strengthening the communities we serve. Thank you to all of our staff, partners, and community members for your dedication and support - together, we are making a difference.
Wishing you a safe, healthy, and successful year ahead!
Respectfully,
Cindy Harpenau
Executive Director
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HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START/CDC
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WHY EARLY HEAD START AND HEAD START?
Head Start and Early Head Start are high quality early education programs that are research-based and supports the whole family. Applications for the 2025-2026 school year will be starting February 1, 2026. Please call 800-859-2025 for more information!
Head Start and Early Head Start are free, federally funded programs that support children’s growth and development from birth to age five. Families are children’s first and most important teachers, and these programs partner with families to build their strengths and support learning at home. Both programs provide comprehensive services, including health, family support, nutrition, and school readiness.
Early Head Start serves 72 pregnant women and children from birth to age three. The program offers home-based services to 48 families across a five-county area. Weekly home visits take place in the family’s home, where a Family Advocate supports parents in promoting their child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. Early Head Start also offers 24 center-based slots for toddlers in Le Mars and Sioux Center.
The Head Start program is a free, center-based early childhood program serving 175 eligible families with three and four-year-old children. Head Start provides educational activities that support cognitive and social development and prepare children for kindergarten. Children also receive health screenings, mental health support, nutritious meals, and connections families to community resources. In addition, the Shared Visions program in Hawarden operates similarly to Head Start, serving 16 three and four-year-old children in a center-based setting.
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WHAT PARENTS SAY
“The Head Start program has made a lasting impression in a very positive way for all our four girls and one son through speech, letters, and numerous life skills at a young age. I highly recommend!”
“Very welcoming and caring! When I needed help – resources were given and problems were solved!”
“Love the mealtimes, exploration through play and the caring teachers and staff!”
“Love how good they are with the kids!”
“We are so happy with Head Start. My child is learning so much!”
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SIOUX & LYON COUNTIES OUTREACH
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Hello from Sioux and Lyon County Outreach! We hope everyone had a joyful and relaxing holiday season!
LiHEAP APPLICATIONS: We are in full swing with taking LiHEAP applications, which will be taken until April 30th. Please call our office (Sioux: 712-722-3611 or Lyon: 712-472-3746) to schedule an appointment or learn how you can apply! Below you can see the income guidelines:
| HOUSEHOLD SIZE |
ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME |
| 1 |
$31,300 |
| 2 |
$42,300 |
| 3 |
$53,300 |
| 4 |
$64,300 |
| 5 |
$75,300 |
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Please add $11,000 for each additional member.
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EMBRACE IOWA: We are also taking Embrace Iowa applications. Embrace Iowa is a grant sponsored by the Des Moines Register for up to $750 for things the we normally cannot pay for (car repairs/tires, medical bills, beds, appliances, eye glasses, etc.). Embrace is a first come, first serve program. You can also call the offices to apply for this program.
HOLIDAY PROGRAMS: We have finished our holiday programs and was it ever a busy, but an enjoyable time! We love being able to help our clients with holiday meals and Christmas gifts for those that are in need during that time of year. For the holiday meals, clients could choose between receiving a Thanksgiving meal or a Christmas meal. The meal this year included a ham donated by the Sioux County Pork Producers, mashed potatoes and gravy, two different kinds of vegetables, canned pumpkin or cranberries, stuffing, biscuits, and a pie and served 30 families for Thanksgiving and 30 families for Christmas. For the Christmas gifts, we had sponsors donate either monetarily or purchase gifts for our clients. We had 33 individuals sign up for Christmas gifts in Lyon County and 369 individuals in Sioux County.
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FOOD PANTRIES: Both of our food pantries still continue to be pretty busy. We have been receiving many food donations from food drives and monetary donations. The support towards our food pantries is very much appreciated as there are many families and individuals out there that need just that little bit of extra help with food. If you would like to donate towards the food pantries in either Sioux or Lyon county, please contact our office.
We thank everyone for their support in 2025 and look forward to the partnerships in 2026!
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WIC
Looking back on 2025, WIC had much to celebrate. During the summer, WIC distributed Farmers Market Vouchers to 700 qualifying participants. Each participant received $30 in vouchers to use at local farmers markets for fresh, locally grown produce.
In September, WIC welcomed another Certified Lactation Specialist to the team. Kayla Hansen successfully completed all certification requirements and passed her exam. With her addition, Mid-Sioux WIC now has four CLC/CLS staff members available to support participants throughout their breastfeeding journey.
Temporary Increase to WIC Food Packages – Effective April 1, 2026
Beginning April 1, 2026, WIC families will see a temporary increase in their milk and cash value benefits. These changes are intended to better meet nutritional needs, improve nutrient balance, and reinforce the supplemental nature of the WIC program.
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Maternal Health
During Fiscal Year 2025, Maternal Health served 102 participants. In 2026 Maternal Health Program continues to provide essential support and education to pregnant women. Clinic visits include:
- Nursing education
- Nutrition counseling
- Psychosocial assessments and counseling
- Dental education and referrals
- Assistance with arranging financial resources for delivery
In addition, staff assist eligible women with applying for Presumptive Eligibility through the Maternal Health Program, helping ensure timely access to care.
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LIHEAP
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally-funded program designed to assist eligible low-income households with a portion of their residential heating costs for the winter heating season, to encourage regular utility payments, to promote energy awareness, and to encourage reduction of energy usage through energy efficiency, client education, and weatherization.
As of the end of December outreach staff have taken 1,049 approved applications in our 5-county service area. Last fiscal year, we approved 1,761 applications.
Benefits of LiHEAP
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Keeps families safe & healthy through initiatives that assist families with energy costs
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Protects qualified applicants from being disconnected from natural gas or electric service during the annual winter moratorium Nov 1 - April 1
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Receive a one-time payment to assist with household heating costs, regardless of heating fuel type
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Outreach will be taking applications through April 30th. A household may be eligible if:
o Household income is 200% or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines
o Household has an energy burden
o Citizenship status can be verified for all household members
WEATHERIZATION
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is a low-income energy efficiency program administered by the Department of Energy (DOE). Its purpose is to make the homes of low-income clients more energy efficient, thereby reducing the households’ energy bills.
The installation of energy efficiency measures varies for each household, but the work completed is determined by a computerized energy audit detailing the cost-effectiveness of each measure.
Last fiscal year, with newer office staff, we weatherized 18 homes in our 5- county service area. This year, we expect that number to be around 30.
BENEFITS OF WEATHERIZATION
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Solves certain health and safety problems in households
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Reduces environmental pollution
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Maintains affordable housing for low-income households
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Reduces utility averages
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Our program benefits from the expertise of three Weatherization contractors, three furnace contractors and two Energy Auditors who help us serve our clients effectively.
Program Staff – Monica Gravenish, Energy Services Coordinator
Energy Auditors – Tim Carlin & Ryan Ten Napel
Weatherization Contractors – Gary Dodd’s LLC, Bergmeier Construction, Curiel Construction & Remodeling
Furnace Contractors – B&K Plumbing & Heating, Tri-State Plumbing & Heating, Langel’s Plumbing & Heating
Outreach staff are available to guide households through the LIHEAP/Weatherization application process designed for their convenience. Contact a local outreach office to schedule an appointment!
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Outreach staff are available to guide households through the LIHEAP/Weatherization application process designed for their convenience. Contact a local outreach office to schedule an appointment!
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