A Community Action Agency to fight poverty at a local level by assisting low-income families in Northwest Iowa to become self-sufficient. Mission: Helping People. Changing Lives.
A Community Action Agency to fight poverty at a local level by assisting low-income families in Northwest Iowa to become self-sufficient. Mission: Helping People. Changing Lives.
Services:
- Free confidential referrals to local childcare providers
- Guidance in what to look for in child care,
- Resources to make Family Emergency Preparedness plan
- Referrals to other agencies to assist in paying for early childhood care and education
Eligibility:
Dependent on each program/service. Check site for specifics on program and eligibility: Mid-Sioux Opportunity Inc. – Mid-Sioux Opportunity, Inc.
Intake Process:
Contact Mid-Sioux to be set up further.
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:00am-4:30pm
Mailing Address:
418 S Marion Street
Remsen , IA 51050
Payment:
No costs to particpant.
Handicap Accessible: No
Appointment Needed: No
Website: Visit Website
WIC is a special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. WIC is a federally funded public health nutrition program helping families by providing healthy foods, nutrition education, and referrals to other health care agencies.
Services:
- Supplemental food benefits for grocery stores and some farmer’s markets
- Nutrition counseling and education
- Breastfeeding education, promotion, breast pumps, and support
- Immunization screening and referrals
- Health and social service referrals
Eligibility:
WIC serves women, infants, and children that meet income based guidelines.
Intake Process:
Contact the local WIC office and schedule an appointment. Bring proof of address, proof of identity, and proof of income.
Handicap Accessible: No
Appointment Needed: No
Website: Visit Website
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally-funded program by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) designed to assist low-income families meet the cost of home heating. LIHEAP provides a one-time payment to the heating utility department.
This program is not designed to pay a household’s total energy costs, but to provide assistance in the payment of residential heating costs for eligible households. Households who reside in subsidized housing that are individually metered and responsible for paying their primary heating costs are eligible. Subsidized households that are master metered are usually not eligible to receive assistance benefits
Services:
- Utility payment assistance
Eligibility:
A household may qualify for assistance if the household’s income falls under 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Intake Process:
Applications are accepted on a first come/first served basis at a local community action agency from November 1 through April 30 (October 1 for households with elderly/disabled member). Complete the application and return it to the local community action agency. Applications may be available to be completed online through the local community action agency. Applicants must provide proof of income, Social Security numbers for each household member, and the household’s most recent heating or electric bill.
Handicap Accessible: No
Appointment Needed: No
Website: Visit Website
Program: Weatherization Assistance Program
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is a program established to help reduce the heating and cooling costs for low income persons, the elderly, disabled, and children, by improving the energy efficiency of their homes. The program also fixes certain health and safety problems in the client’s homes, maintains affordable housing for low-income persons, reduces utility cost, and reduces environmental pollution.
Services:
- Insulation in attics, walls, and foundations
- Furnace or venting repairs, and replacements
- Thermostat repairs
- Refrigerator or freezer replacement
- Water heater or venting repairs, and replacements
- Energy efficient lighting
- Other eligible repairs
Eligibility:
Households with an income at or below 200% Federal Poverty Level. If the household is receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Family Investment Program (FIP) Assistance, the household is eligible to receive Weatherization services, regardless of income.
Intake Process:
Applications are accepted year round at local community action agencies. Applications for LIHEAP are automatically sent to the Weatherization program. Applications are prioritized based on need. Not every application for LIHEAP will receive services from the Weatherization program.
Handicap Accessible: No
Appointment Needed: No
Website: Visit Website
Program: Healthy Child Care Iowa (HCCI)
Healthy Child Care Iowa supports local Maternal and Child Health agencies to define the role and responsibilities of the Child Care Nurse Consultant. CCNCs work with Iowa Early Care and Education programs to provide free services. The CCNC program is evidence-based and helps to ensure that children have access to healthy and safe care. CCNC’s are required to complete the Iowa Training Project for Child Care Nurse Consultants (ITPCCNC) training. The purpose of ITPCCNC is to expand the nurse’s knowledge and skills to work with early childhood care and education providers.
Services:
- On-site consultation
- Training
- Technical assistance
- Information and referrals
- Care planning for children with special health needs
Eligibility:
Services are available to all Iowa child care providers and families.
Intake Process:
Contact your local Child Care Nurse Consultant or Child Care Resource and Referral.
Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8am-5pm.
Handicap Accessible: No
Appointment Needed: No
Website: Visit Website
The FaDSS (Family Development and Self-Sufficiency) Program is a supportive service to assist families with significant or multiple barriers to reach self-sufficiency. FaDSS partners with PROMISE JOBS, an employment and training program for families. FaDSS provides services that promote, empower, and nurture families towards economic and emotional self-sufficiency.
Services:
- Home visits
- Goal setting
- Advocacy
- Family training and counseling
- Family assessment
- Referral services
Eligibility:
Families with children, under the age of 18, who are at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines and meet other criteria may be eligible for FaDSS services. It is no longer a requirement for FaDSS participants to be enrolled in the Family Investment Program (FIP).
Intake Process:
Anyone can refer to the FaDSS program, including self-referrals.
Handicap Accessible: No
Appointment Needed: No
Website: Visit Website
Program: Head Start
As the nation’s leading federally funded early learning program, Head Start serves children and families in every state. Head Start’s role in each state differs based on local systems and models. The purpose of Head Start programs is to promote the school readiness of children ages 3 to 5 years. Most of these programs are based in centers. In other programs, children and families may receive services from educators and family service staff who regularly make home visits. Parent involvement is encouraged and support is offered for children with disabilities.
Services:
- Nutrition Services
- Preschool Education
- Health Services
- Mental health
- Connection with social services
- Parent involvement
- Family literacy
Eligibility:
Head Start is accessible at no cost to children ages 3 – 5 for low-income families. Families and children experiencing homelessness, and children in the foster care system are also eligible as well as children with disabilities and special needs. Specific eligibility requirements are determined by each Head Start site.
Intake Process:
Call for current application. Enrollment in Head Start begins in February for the next school year. Have the following information ready when applying:
- proof of family income (for 1 year)
- child’s birth verification
- record of recent physical exam for the child
- record of the child’s lead test,
- the child’s immunization card
- record of recent dental exam for the child.
Handicap Accessible: No
Appointment Needed: No
Website: Visit Website
Program: Early Head Start
The Early Head Start (EHS) program is for low-income infants, toddlers, pregnant women and their families. EHS programs promote children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development, support parents’ efforts to fulfill their parental roles, and help parents move toward self-sufficiency.
Services:
- Provide early, individualized child development and parent education services through home visits and group settings in the community as well as the Early Head Start Center.
- Provide early opportunities for infants and toddlers with and without disabilities to grow and develop together in nurturing and inclusive settings.
- Connect with other service providers to provide support through health, nutrition, and other services.
- Coordinate with local Head Start and other child development programs when the child is 3.
Eligibility:
Families with children ages birth to 3 years of age. Must meet income guidelines. Federal poverty guidelines are used.
Intake Process:
Call for current application. Enrollment in Early Head Start is ongoing. Have the following information ready when applying:
- proof of family income (for 1 year)
- child’s birth verification
- record of recent physical exam for the child
- record of the child’s lead test
- the child’s immunization card
- record of recent dental exam for the child.
Handicap Accessible: No
Appointment Needed: No
Website: Visit Website