Revised Mid-Sioux April Newsletter

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Helping People. Changing Lives.

April 2018 Volume 28; Issue 7

From the Executive Director's Desk

April activities are being hampered a bit by weather. I don’t recall the last time I called a snow day in April but it did happen this year on April 3 ^rd . Hopefully we can put those days behind us.

Contract renewal applications are being developed for W.I.C. and Maternal/Child Health services. Managed care for Medicaid continues to be somewhat of a challenge as documentation requirements are increasing and funding is not. Thanks to Cindy Harpenau and Beth Tentinger for the work they do to properly prepare and submit claims. This process is very time consuming and accuracy is extremely important.

Energy Assistance or LIHEAP applications will continue through April. Right now it looks as if we may process a few more applications than last year. Staff has worked very hard to get the word out. Additional intake clinics have helped to increase our visibility. We have reached the point where the process is paperless. This helps to keep costs down and makes the process less cumbersome.

Support from the United Way of LeMars has allowed us to provide car seats, cribs and pack 'n plays to Plymouth County families. Funding to assist with emergency services was provided as well. Applications have been submitted to continue the emergency services and to place new playground equipment at our LeMars Head Start/Early Head Start location. We will find out about this new funding in June or July. We have a very good relationship with the United Way. Thanks to our staff that raised over $1,500.00 through our in-house campaign.

Over the next few months we will be evaluating a potential role for Mid-Sioux in fighting the opioid epidemic. Iowa has certainly been impacted. We want to do our part in helping to eliminate this problem.

The Iowa legislature will be ending its 2018 session very soon. It will be one of the most eventful years in recent memory. Changes in the tax code and with mental health services are just two of the priorities dealt with this session. Thanks to all of our legislators for the work that they do.

Summer will be here soon. I promise!

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Child Care Resource & Referral

#TogetherWeWill... Work together to provide quality child care programs for Iowa's youngest citizens!

CCR&R of NW Iowa - Region 1

Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) of NW Iowa is excited to announce that digital fingerprinting is here! One of the challenges NW Iowa child care businesses have been facing is the availability of locations to get their fingerprints taken. Fingerprinting is a Department of Human Services requirement to become a registered provider.

“We are very excited to be able to offer mobile digital fingerprinting to NW Iowa providers beginning in April 2018. Our new Livescan system will allow us to travel to our providers in order to assist them with their fingerprinting requirements. Our staff has been through a training hosted by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations and will be able to scan fingerprints into this system and print out the assigned fingerprint cards on site at no cost to child care providers,” states Administrative Project Specialist, Sonya Jonas. “Even though the live scan process is far superior to the ink process, and can eliminate up 99% of all rejected ten prints, it does take the same amount of skill to get a proper set of prints.”

CCR&R of NW Iowa will have fingerprinting available during their local conferences and plan to add dates for community sessions too. Be sure to follow us on our Facebook page for announcements.

CCR&R has made a commitment to break the barriers that prevent child care providers from starting a business. Offering free, convenient fingerprinting is a wonderful addition to the services already available. Want to learn more? Contact a Child Care Consultant here .

All Staff Training in Des Moines

CCR&R Staff: Jennifer & Bailey

CCR&R Staff: Retta, Sonya & Deb

To learn more about the free services offered to providers and parents

by Child Care Resource & Referral, visit their website at www.iowaccrr.org .

CCR&R is committed to ensure that Iowa's vision is met: "All children, beginning at birth, will be healthy and successful."

CCR&R of NW Iowa | www.iowaccrr.org

Funding provided by the Iowa Department of Human Services through the Child Care Development Fund

Stone Soup at Head Start

Teachers and Family Advocates team up together to involve parents and children in the classroom through a fun activity called Stone Soup. Parents come to the center and the teacher reads the Stone Soup story by Ann McGovern. Stone soup is about a man who is a peddler and he decides he is hungry, so he stops to ask an elderly lady for food. She says that she doesn’t have any to share but then he soon convinces her to borrow him a pot to stew his stone. He then convinces her to share vegetables from her garden and a beef bone. They end up having a a meal together. After reading the book children and parents then cut vegetables for their own stone soup and eat together as a class.

This is a fun parent/child activity that encourages parent participation, good nutrition and a feeling of sharing an accomplishment with their classmates and parents!

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Iowa Community Action Association

The Iowa Community Action Association was established over 35 years ago. Its original purpose was to develop a statewide network to represent the interest of Iowa’s Community Action Agencies and the people they serve. It’s mission statement today is “ To be a forceful advocate in support of policies and services that address the needs of individuals and families striving for economic security.” As you can see, it's mission has not changed much since the early years.

ICAA provides a statewide voice for the 17 Iowa Community Action Agencies. Representation in the political arena is provided as well as a voice with state and federal offices and agencies. Some of the most recent impacts of this work include the maintenance of funding for the Family Development & Self-Sufficiency Program, Iowa Early Head Start and Shared Visions Pre-School.

Training and technical assistance services provided by ICAA take place at single topic events and at the annual conference held during the summer of each year. This year that event is July 17-19. Training and support is provided on all topics relevant to Community Action Agency programs and services.

On occasion, ICAA serves as the contract entity for statewide programming. This happens when an entity such as Alliant Energy wishes to provide a service through all or most of the Community Action Agencies. ICAA serves as the contractor and each agency enters into an agreement with ICAA for services in their service territory.

There are 4 ICAA staff persons providing support to Mid-Sioux and the other Iowa agencies. They are:

Lana Shope – Executive Director

Tiffany Keimig - Director of Training and Technical Assistance

Ashley Tenney – Program Officer

Zsanette Buchanan – Executive Administrative Assistant

ICAA is well respected throughout Iowa and the United States. Lana Shope, Executive Director, was recently recognized by the National Community Action Foundation for her consistent and impactful service to community action.

It is safe to say that Iowa’s Community Action Network has helped to make our work much more effective.

Dick Sievers

Executive Director

Sioux County Outreach

With warmer weather approaching we are coming close to an end in our LiHeap season. Outreach offices are continuing to take LiHeap applications through April 30, 2018. If you or someone you know needs help with their heating bill, please call one of our outreach offices and schedule your appointment.

We are currently taking applications for the Head Start 2018-2019 school year. Head Start is a free preschool program for 3 and 4 year old children. Give our Outreach a call at 722-3611 if you have any questions or to schedule a time to complete an application.

With schools also coming to end and kids being home during the day, many families struggle with providing meals through the day. Sioux Center food pantry is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 am-4:30 pm. Mark your calendars for May 12 ^th as the annual Postal Food Drive will be held that day. Postal carriers will be picking up any food donations left near people’s mailboxes that day. Mid-Sioux will be receiving some of those donations. We always look forward to this donation to help fill our shelves and get ready for the summer months.

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