July 2026 Quarterly Newsletter
From the Executive Director's Desk
Wow – it’s hard to believe that we’re already in the last weeks of July! The corn is well past knee-high and beginning to tassel, a sure sign that summer is quickly passing. I hope everyone is enjoying the summer and has had the opportunity to spend time with family and friends.
The past few months have been busy across the agency. We kicked off May with another successful Annual Meeting. We are grateful for the opportunity to recognize employees and board members for their years of service and to bring staff together for a day of learning and appreciation. A special thank you to the employees who recognized their peers for demonstrating our core values each day. These recognitions were a great reminder that our values of family, teamwork, compassion, integrity, and community are being lived out every day by employees across the agency.
With July 1st marking the beginning of the state fiscal year, several of our programs are transitioning into a new program year. Our Head Start staff are preparing classrooms and finalizing plans for the upcoming school year, while our WIC staff continue promoting the Farmers Market Nutrition Program and implementing updates to food packages. Although the LIHEAP season has ended, planning is already underway for the next season, reflecting the year-round commitment of our outreach staff to serving families in our communities.
Professional development continues to be an important investment across our agency. This summer, staff have participated in state and national conferences, leadership events, and specialized training opportunities. We would like to highlight some recent accomplishments within our Child Care Resource and Referral program.
Congratulations to Monique Ortiz, who recently received the Janet George Leadership Award, and to Sydney Blair and Amber Kollbaum, who earned I-Consult credentials.
At both the federal and state levels, we continue to closely monitor budget developments and legislative discussions that may affect the programs and services we provide. We remain committed to supporting the programs and services that are essential to the families and communities we serve.
As we approach the end of July, I hope everyone can make time to enjoy moments with family and friends. Thank you to our staff, board members, and community partners for your continued dedication and support.
Respectfully,
Cindy Harpenau
Executive Director
HOUSING/ENERGY SERVICES
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Applications for this year’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program ended April 30th. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally-funded program designed to assist low-income families with the cost of heating their home in the winter by providing a one-time payment to the heating utility. Owner-occupied and renter-occupied households may be eligible for the program. Final application counts for this fiscal year are shown below.
Eligibility:
- At or below 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines
- Household has an energy burden
- Verify citizenship status for household members
Items Needed to Apply:
- Proof of income for household members
- Heat/Electric bills
- Social Security verification
We strive to make the application process as convenient as possible. Applications may be submitted in person, by telephone, by mail, or by email. The percentages below show the distribution of applications received through each submission method this year.
For more information on this program, please reach out to your local Outreach office:
- Cherokee and Ida Counties: (712) 225-3322 or (712) 364-2175
- Sioux and Lyon Counties: (712) 722-3611 or (712) 472-3746
- Plymouth County: (712) 546-6603
Janet George Leadership Award Winner
Monique Ortiz, Statewide Behavior Health and Professional Development Specialist Supervisor, received the 2026 Child Care Resource and Referral Janet George Leadership Award at the Leadership and Learning Day on April 22, 2026. This award is in memory of Janet George, a leader in Iowa’s Child Care Resource and Referral System since the 1980's. This award seeks to recognize those who have a passionate commitment to young children, child care and Iowa CCR&R. Recipients of the Janet George Award mentor through example, have a commitment to providing the highest level of quality service and treat every parent and provider with the utmost importance.
The award is selected by the Child Care Resource and Referral State Network Team, including Iowa Health and Human Services. Monique was selected for this award based on her leadership qualities that make her worthy of this award and her involvement in community work and collaboration.
Monique approaches her work to be the best team member possible. She is willing to volunteer for any work that needs to be completed and can be either a leader or participant of workgroups. “Bring it on” is how she approaches all child care situations. Her attitude has helped CCR&R make significant progress in our professional development, coaching, and behavioral health services over the past 12 years.
WIC (Women, Infants & Children)
As we reach the halfway point of our fiscal year, WIC continues to have much to celebrate and reflect on. The summer months brought many positive moments and opportunities to support families throughout our communities.
Farmers Market Vouchers: During the summer, WIC distributed Farmers Market Vouchers to 800 qualifying participants. Each participant received $30 in vouchers to use at local farmers markets for fresh, locally grown produce. This initiative helped encourage healthy eating habits while supporting local farmers and connecting families with nutritious food options.
New Staff: In May, WIC welcomed another Breastfeeding Peer Counselor to the team. Karen Robles met all position requirements and successfully completed the required training. With her addition, Mid-Sioux WIC now has two Breastfeeding Peer Counselors who currently support an active caseload of 160 participants every two weeks. Together, they have already served more than 400 prenatal and breastfeeding women this year, providing valuable encouragement and support throughout their breastfeeding journey.
MATERNAL HEALTH
As we continue through Fiscal Year 2026, the Maternal Health Program remains committed to providing essential support, education, and resources to pregnant women. During Fiscal Year 2025, the program served 102 participants and continues to build on that success by helping families access the care and resources they need.
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 healthcare services.
HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START/CDC
The Head Start program serves three- and four-year old children and their families. The program helps prepare children for kindergarten by supporting their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Head Start also partners with families to promote children’s learning and success both at home and in school.
The following are highlights from the annual Program Information Report for the 2025-2026 Head Start school year.
Enrollment
- Our program maintained full enrollment throughout the 2025-2026 program year.
- Head Start is funded to serve 175 children. Due to children leaving the program and new children enrolling throughout the year, a total of 189 were served during the 2025-2026 program year.
Health & Disabilities
- Ensuring children are healthy remains a top priority. Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) screenings were completed within 45 to 90 days of enrollment, helping identify health concerns early and connect families with services.
- We supported families in accessing health, dental, and insurance resources. Twenty-five children were identified with chronic health conditions, such as hearing, vision, or lead level concerns.
- Access to dental care continues to be a challenge, however, 90% of enrolled children received preventive dental care, through strong partnerships with I-Smile, Siouxland District Health, and local dental providers.
- Head Start is required to serve at least 10% of enrolled children with disabilities. During the program year, we met this requirement by serving 16 children with identified disabilities, ensuring children receive individualized services and support to promote their development.
Education
- Our classrooms use the High/Scope curriculum to provide children with engaging, developmentally appropriate learning. Ongoing child progress is monitored using the GOLD assessment, allowing teachers to individualize instruction and support each child’s growth and school readiness.
- Developmental screenings, including the Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) and Ages & Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ-SE), are completed for each child to identify developmental strengths and areas for additional support.
- Families have access to the Active Parenting curriculum, providing resources and strategies to strengthen parenting skills at home.
Family Engagement & Support
- Head Start served 174 families in 2025-2026; 91 two-parent households, 83 single-parent households, with 6 children in foster care or living with relatives, and 10 children experiencing homelessness.
- Supporting family well-being and self-sufficiency remains a key component of our program. By the end of the school year, 75% of families were employed, enrolled in job training, or attending school. 69% of families received Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits, while 42% utilized the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
We’re excited for the 2026-2027 school year.
Child Care Aware of America Symposium
Child Care Strong: Igniting Opportunity!
Child Care Resource and Referral staff attended the Child Care Aware of America Symposium May 3-6, 2026 in Arlington, VA. The theme for the symposium was Child Care Strong: Igniting Opportunity.
Mid-Sioux Opportunity staff attending included Heather Hinds, Michelle Klas, Lynette Feenstra and Jessica Reyes. They joined other Iowa representatives from HHS and Child Care Resource and Referral.
May 5, 2026 was scheduled as Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill. Meetings were scheduled with staff for Senator Grassley, Senator Ernst, Representative Feenstra and Representative Hinson.
SIOUX & LYON COUNTIES OUTREACH
Hello from Sioux and Lyon County Outreach!
This summer has been flying by! While we have slowed down a bit at both offices, we have still been busy taking crisis application and pool passes.
Pool Passes: The All Seasons Center passes are for those who live in the Sioux Center school district and passes for the Rock Rapids pool are for those that have a 51246 zip code. If anyone is interested in a discounted pool pass, they can call the Sioux Center office at (712) 722-3611.
Back-to-School Program: Our Back-to-School program is up and running! This is the first year that we have had this program in Lyon County and we are excited to be able to offer this to our clients there. So far, we have had a great response and hope to be able to reach more next year! Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids will be holding a Back-to-School night at the races for us on August 14th. Children going into kindergarten through 8th grade can sign up to receive a backpack with school supplies for the upcoming school year.
Donations: We have received some great donations in both counties this past year. We are so grateful that so many in our communities help us support our mission of helping people and changing lives!
Mid-Sioux was nominated by Ko Kieft of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, originally from Sioux Center, for this year's "A Day With The Pros" hosted by Snap Fitness and ProActive Physical Therapy on June 23rd. Kids who were entering 3rd grade through 8th grade got to train with NFL players (Ko Kieft & Andrew Van Ginkel of the Minnesota Vikings and Brandon Scherff of the Jacksonville Jaguars) in non-contact speed, running, and catching drills. A great night was had by all!
LIHEAP: It’s crazy to think about this already, especially with the heat we have been having, but the heating assistance season will be here before we know it! The elderly and disabled can apply in October, with everyone else being able to apply in November.
Enjoy the rest of your summer!
I-CONSULT CREDENTIALS ACHIEVED
Congratulations to Sydney Blair for achieving her I-Consult Credential and Amber Kollbaum for achieving her 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.
Sydney Blair 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.
Amber Kollbaum completed the I-Consult Mentor Credentialing program which prepared her to mentor other consultants. Amber 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.