UDMO Executive Director s Report - July 2014

Transcription

1 UDMO Executive Director s Report - July 2014 Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc. Executive Director - Jamey M. Whitney Inside Housing Services 2 IT 3 Human Resources 4 Power Up YOUth 5 LIHEAP/WIC 6 Head Start 7 FaDSS/Weatherization 8 Hand in Hand 9 CSBG Outreach This last month has been very busy. It seems that there is no downtime through the year for anyone to catch a breath. That is good knowing we are busy, but a challenge to try and develop and implement new changes. We keep pushing forward everyday and find relief in knowing that we are making a big difference. There is a lot of information in this month s report, so please take the time to review what each of the programs have submitted. I have spent a great deal of time in meetings and working with administrative staff on hiring, budgets, insurance, and various other administrative issues. I also spent time working on the 2015 CSBG grant and at the Iowa Community Action Association State Conference. The grant got me thinking about the changes that we will need to be making to insure that we are meeting the Organizational Performance Standards for Community Action. When I look at the new standards, I count 24 that the board will directly be responsible for insuring that they are completed. In August, I would like to call a meeting of our Board Development Committee to lay out our progress towards meeting the Organization Standards through the use of Assessment Tool. I have put both of these items on our website at Click on the Organizational Performance Standards for Community Action or the Draft Assessment Tool. It will be challenging work, but necessary. This last month, I and staff have worked on the Emergency Shelter Grant for FY2015 ($150,000) and our Community Services Block Grant ($403,189). Also, over the last month, several of our counties were declared disaster areas due to the storms and flooding and declared eligible for the Iowa Individual Assistance Program. Like last year, all of Iowa s Community Action Agencies are the access points for individuals to access these funds. As you may recall, to be eligible, an individual or family must have suffered damage by the disaster event and meet income eligibility guidelines. They can receive up to $5,000 in assistance from the state. We are that conduit for assistance. The counties of Buena Vista, Clay, Emmet, Hamilton, and Palo Alto were all open for assistance and will take applications into August Last month I shared with you that Rich Kelly, our Weatherization Director, was retiring. We wish Mr. Kelly all the best. I would like to welcome Kyle Dietrich on board as our new Weatherization Director. Kyle has worked in the Weatherization Program for roughly 4 years and meets all of the certifications for the position. We are excited to have him on board and I know he will do an excellent job. Over the last week, I began putting a to-do list together for the next several months. Many of these items will include other staff and board member involvement at some level and I wanted to make you aware of the projects. 1. Succession Planning We need to put into place a plan, not only for the board and myself, but a plan that includes the key administrative staff. 2. Strategic Planning Planning to fulfill our mission. We began this last year with consultant Mary Virtue. It is a continuation of last year s beginning. 3. Board Training Plan - training specific to roles and responsibilities and others identified in the new Organizational Standards. I have several other key tasks that will be on my plate over the next few months. They include: Completion of the Gingerbread Roof in Storm Lake. Completion of the renovations to the Emmetsburg Outreach/Energy Office Hire an Operations Director. Complete the Rohret Scholarship Plan Development of a Board Restructuring Plan There are multiple items that could be added. These are just a few that need to be dealt with right away. We will be asking for board assistance over the next several months and will be actively seeking your involvement. I appreciate all that you do for the staff, communities and clients of community action.

2 July 2014 Page 2 Housing Services - Kim Motl This has been a quick month since I began the job of working on the ESG and TBRA grants. We have been able to spend over half the funds in TBRA and the goal is to be completed with that funding by the end of the month. I have received excellent training not only from the home office but the outreach directors have been very helpful and supportive. Many times we often question who we are helping and what s there story, Please let me share with you two stories: The first client that I was able to assist is a single Mother of three, Mandy works full time at minimal wage job. It only takes one disaster to place you behind on your rent and that is what took place with her, Her son became ill and was in the hospital for a week and she fell a month behind on her rent and received an eviction notice; we were able to help her with ESG funds and then moved her to TBRA funding. Because of these programs and the support of the landlord she and her children were able to remain in their apartment. She remains current on her rent payments. The next couple has three children and moved here from Oklahoma and have been living in a motel. Joe (father) has found full time employment and is working at a job that will allow them to become self-sustaining. Alicia (mother) is staying home with their son who is being diagnosed with autism. While waiting for assists the couple depleted there funding (tax return money) and had to move in with his mother in a small two bedroom apartment. As of this newsletter Joe and Alicia and family have moved into an apartment that we were able to help with TBRA funding. The family and the kids finally have a place to call HOME. We continue to have a waiting list in all four counties showing the need for affordable housing and with all programs more funding. Until next month, I will continue to offer our clients a HAND UP

3 July 2014 Page 3 Information Technology - Elisa Umscheid Current Projects: Dell is in the process of writing the refund checks. I hope to see them within the next 10 to 14 days. Replacement tablets for Head Start have been located and quoted. Order is ready to be placed when refund has been received. Summer projects have been determined and a tentative schedule has been developed. Due to storms and weather related outages and storm damage that our IT services provider has been dealing with this past month, the installation schedule has been delayed. Replace Exchange server at Graettinger: Exchange server has been installed and mailboxes are being transferred after hours. When complete mail services will be transferred to new Server. This project is complete except for moving mailboxes. Time frame for completion is next 10 days. Replace existing Firewall at Graettinger: 2nd week of June (this will be started when Exchange mail server move is complete). Firewall is loaded but not installed pending completion of Exchange move. Reformat existing Exchange server and move to Fort Dodge: 1st week of August. This date is tentative, pending delivery of Head Start tablets and Exchange/Firewall completion. Reformat existing Fort Dodge server and Graettinger Firewall and install at Energy: upon completion of building remodel. Tentative date mid to late September. MediaCom is currently scheduling a site survey to bring Internet services to the Outreach building in Emmetsburg for the Energy move. They indicated they will be able to complete that within 10 days and then give us a time frame for installing Internet services based on the survey results. I will be coordinating with them to get the upgraded Internet service installed and phones switched over providing the site survey comes back with favorable results. Staff support calls and requests continue to arrive daily and are addressed as they are received.

4 Executive Director s Report Human Resources Connie Hurst Page 4 The HR Department and Fiscal Department, along with the Executive Director, have been meeting regularly to discuss issues that cross over into both program. It has been very helpful to have this time to sit face to face and review forms, share information and also do some brainstorming on future issues. With usual summer changes in personnel it has also been helpful to get everyone onto the same page as far as salary and HR paperwork requirements. Other items completed by the HR Department this month were: Employee Policy Manual was posted on SharePoint along with Employee Acceptance Form Head Start Program postings continued for multiple position openings. Attended Directors & Outreach Directors meetings Attended meeting with Insurance agent, Fiscal and the Executive Director to discuss changes the Affordable Care Act will bring to UDMO Worked with IT to make certain all new employees and their locations are in system. With the Program Development group of the Strategic Plan, reviewed the Employee Code of Ethics/Conduct to see if revisions needed to be done to be more affirmative and less negative. Established Head Start new employee orientation for July 29, For 6/1/14 6/30/14: 0 employees received orientation and joined UDMO as new employees. 9 employee left UDMO in for other career opportunities. 6 Head Start - Home Visitors/Substitutes/Interpreters 2 Outreach 1 Weatherization

5 PowerUp Youth Kathy Getting Numbers Served Year to Date Individuals Served 207 Current Events We received notice from our outside evaluator that the contracted system analysis will now take place over the time frame of two fiscal years. The original school analysis contract is being altered to describe a system analysis of the Webster City School District, Hamilton County Public Health, and the 6 th District Juvenile Court Services. Emphasis will be on the practices and policies around substance abuse and mental health. We are waiting for a revised addendum before making the initial payment for the system analysis. The social host law that became effective on July 1 has remained a focus of the coalition s efforts in June. Coalition members approached each of the seven city councils who had not passed city social host ordinances to inform them of the new law and their options. They all decided to operate under the state law at this time. Published media efforts to inform the public of the new law included radio ads on KQWC, Facebook posts, an opinion piece in the Daily Freeman Journal, and an article written by a Fort Dodge Messenger reporter after he received our press release and interviewed two coalition members. Coalition members continue to plan other initiatives. Planning meetings have been held around to build our capacity for change through the upcoming Hamilton County Fair, a Drug Endangered Children team, and the formation of a Healthy Hamilton Coalition. Upcoming Events July 10 ICAA conference July 15 Power Up YOUth monthly meeting at noon at intandem Workspace, July Hamilton County Fair Aug. 1 Initial data request for all agencies in system analysis Aug. 12 semi-annual Coalition Online Management and Evaluation Tool report due

6 Executive Director s Report Page 6 Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - Jennifer The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will contract fuel during the summer months for delivery of heating fuels to eligible LIHEAP clients in the subsequent program year. Summer Contracting vendor agreements were mailed to 21 vendors in June. This year $281,992 was available for summer contracting. Last year we had $290,897 available. Unfortunately we do not receive enough funds to contract will all of our deliverable vendors. According to the June survey conducted by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship the statewide average price for propane is $1.58, fuel oil is $3.38. Vendors participating in the Summer Contracting Program will complete a vendor agreement addendum specifying the price per gallon, by fuel type, for which they will contract deliveries to approved clients. A Prepaid LIHEAP Account will then be established with them utilizing available funds. All participating deliverable fuel vendors must attach a price list of routine services that are normal and customary. Those items include: Pressure Check Safety Test Leak Seek Test Regulator Replacement After Hour Delivery Same Day Delivery Non Route Delivery Other Vendors will be paid as soon as we receive funds. After the program begins October 1 st, vendors will be notified when a household has been determined eligible for LIHEAP assistance and the dollar amount awarded. The vendor will deliver the amount of fuel for which that household is eligible, at the contracted price, on their regular delivery schedule. The dollar amount of that delivery will be deducted from the Prepaid LIHEAP Account. If the initial delivery does not exhaust the household s LIHEAP payment, the remaining balance will be used for subsequent delivery to that household until it is exhausted. When the entire Prepaid LIHEAP Account has been exhausted, further deliveries to eligible clients will be made at prevailing market prices and payments will be made as in previous years. In June MidAmerican Energy received proceeds from an insurance settlement related to remediation at manufactured gas plants sites. The Iowa Utilities Board issued an Order for MidAmerican Energy to give those proceeds to residential gas customers in Iowa that are certified low income. The method of disbursement to MidAmerican Energy Company customers, with oversight by Iowa s Community Action Agencies, the procedure for distributing any additional insurance proceeds through the utility s billing adjustment mechanism known as the purchased gas adjustment, one-time payments to MidAmerican s LIHEAP or Weatherization qualified customers with natural gas debts, or for qualified customers on payment agreements for natural gas and electric service debt due to extreme cold weather over the past winter. Refunds are to be applied to residential gas customer accounts that are certified as low income for the balances they owed as of May 1, The settlement will pay off all gas balances owed on customer accounts as of May 1. Each customer will receive a different refund amount. If the customer was on a payment agreement on May 1, the funds will pay the entire payment agreement, including electric charges. It is estimated that the eligible accounts have balances owed of approximately $6.5 million, the remaining proceeds will be applied as a reduction to the purchased gas adjustment (PGA) factor for all gas customers. $377,843 was the amount UDMO client s received. On 6/25/14 we were notified from the State that we would receive additional crisis funding. When our contract amendment came the additional amount was $32,592. Outreach has been notified this crisis funding can be used for reconnection, service continuity, out of fuel help paying a propane backbill and furnace repair/replacement.. Our crisis funding to date is $299,914, last year s total crisis funding was $148,881 at increase of $151,033! Women, Infants & Children (WIC) - Julie Erskine Numbers served: During the month of June, WIC had 2250 active participants in our 8 counties, which is a slight increase from last month. We continue to work on partnerships with other programs to recruit potential clients for WIC. Current changes in national and/or state trends: Still waiting on word from Congress on potential budget for next fiscal year.

7 Early Childhood Programs Newsletter July Connie Siebenbruner Child and Adult Food Program The CACFP program provides meal reimbursement for Head Start and Toddler classrooms. During the month of May, the program provided meals for 343 children, serving 4639 breakfasts, 4438 lunches and 1124 snacks. CACFP operating disbursements were $35, and claim reimbursements were $22, with the remaining $13, charged to Head Start. Enrollment and Attendance Early Head Start is a yearlong program and home visits are provided to all families during the summer months. The program was fully enrolled during the month of June and attendance rates were above 85% for all locations. Head Start and Early Head Start are mandated to serve the neediest children and to maintain a waiting list for all program sites. For this reason, many more applications than available slots are part of the recruitment process for the program. The program assists families on the waiting list to find placement in area preschools and home visiting programs. Summer months are busy times in preparation for the new school year. Home visitors contact all families to ensure required physical and dental exams and immunizations are obtained. Program nurses review the parent completed Health History and make contacts with families for additional information as needed. The program contracts with a dietician who reviews the Nutrition History which parents complete for their children. Program nurses and home visitors work with parents to ensure family have assistance to ensure children have nutritious diets. Teachers and home visitors gear up to meet families during the first weeks of August to begin the program s school year. Clay s Early Childhood Programs Celebrate Summer Spencer s children and their families welcomed summer with a fishing event when the program celebrated the end of the school year. Pure Fishing of Spirit Lake provided each child with a child s size rod and reel to take home. The evening was filled with games and activities planned for children and their parents to enjoy together. Parent/Child events provide activities which are planned for the parent to be their child s teacher. The pictured activity is a stop on a Fishing Scavenger Hunt. Bucket fishing was one of the event s favorite activities. With a little assistance from dad, the catch consisted of a red, blue and orange fish.

8 Executive Director s Report Page 8 Family Development & Self-Sufficiency Numbers Served Number of Families Served November: Year to Date Families Served July 1st, 2013 through July 2014: Current Events: 81 families 152 families FaDSS is wrapping up our program year and were informed that we will have an increase in our budget for ! FaDSS is now at full staff!!! We have hired Christine Sears and Kimberly Hickman. Christine is a FaDSS Specialist for Webster, Wright and Hamilton Counties. Kim is a FaDSS Specialist for Buena Vista and Pocahontas Counties. Upon enrolling in FaDSS, Penny had a newborn baby and two other young children. Her boyfriend was working part-time. After gall bladder surgery and much needed move to a larger house, with the encouragement of FaDSS Penny went and enrolled in GED. She continued to go to GED and Adam continued to work as many hours as he could. Penny soon completed her GED and her and Adam enrolled at Iowa Lakes Community College in the Motel Restaurant Management program. This is a two year program and they both received excellent grades, including making the Dean s List. Throughout school they overcame several obstacles, from their car breaking down and having to buy a new one to the busy schedules of their three kids and only Penny having a driver s license. FaDSS also assisted in getting the two younger children into Early Head Start and Head Start. FaDSS was an advocate when it came to the oldest child s IEP and school meetings. Penny now works as a shift supervisor for a local restaurant and Adam is working full-time as a cook at another restaurant. Penny and Adam are now off of FIP and continuing to achieve their goals!!! Weatherization - Kyle Dietrich Number of families served in June 2014: 11 Number of families served to date in PY 2014: 32 Goal for IWAC RETREAT 25 TH -26 TH 2014: The state is requiring that we have a Hazard Communication Program and a Hazard Communication Training Program put into effect the next time that we have are contracts renewed with are contractors. Also with a lot of the Counties in Iowa being declared Disaster Area s the DOE will not let us use funds for crisis furnaces they want us to stick with are priority list with the clients that are already signed up through are program, but they did give a few alternative options such as: 1. We could blend utility money with crisis money. 2. Heap Funds ONLY Reminder: If the client receives are services this will be a one-time deal and we will not be able to help again. The state also gave us permission through are Agency that we can put in our policy that we don t have to do crisis furnaces and water heaters at all, but as of right now we don t have anything in writing and that will not change, because we are here to help are clients out anyway possible but first we will go through all other resources first and foremost before we would step in and use Heap funds to help are clients. Reminder: That it has to be declared a DISASTER AREA by the Governor before we can go ahead with anything. Also the state is requiring that the Weatherization Department that we start downloading the PDF versions of all the state supplied forms for the Auditors in are future files. By April, person from each agency needs to have their BPI Certification. (State will pay for the first 18 people that are signed up) There is talk that mostly likely that we will have to start doing a Manual J on all furnaces to send to the Furnace Contractor so that we make sure that the proper size equipment is being installed in to our clients homes. After that then the winning bidder will have to fill out another Manual J form that is much more in detail before installing the equipment. UPCOMING EVENTS: ICAA Conference Wednesday, July 9 th -Friday, July 11 th. (Des. Moines IA)

9 June 2014 HAND IN HAND Shakira Meyer Page 9 Cumulative Number of Child Care Classrooms/Homes Served: 46 Cumulative Number of Early Care Professionals Served: 113 Cumulative Number of Children Age 0-2 Served: 270 Cumulative Number of Children Age 3-5 Served: 533 Total Number of Children Age 0-5 Served: 803 Cumulative Number of Families Served: 622 Updates: The Hand in Hand Program has wrapped up FY14 and submitted the End of the Year Data Report to ECI-Lakes Region. The graph below depicts the number of classrooms/home, professionals, children and families served since the program redesign in FY12 (July 2011). The greater number of children and families served this year can be attributed to large child care centers across ECI-Lakes Region requesting Professional Development and On-Site Social/Emotional Coaching services the past two years. Current and Upcoming Events: The Hand in Hand Program will have a change in staff in August The Hand in Hand Program Director Shakira Meyer has taken a position with UDMO HS/EHS as a Program Coordinator. In the interim, current Hand in Hand Coach Paige Duncan is assuming all Program Director responsibilities. UDMO Executive Director Jamey Whitney has begun the recruitment process for a new Program Director.

10 Executive Director s Report Page 10 Emmet, Palo Alto & Pocahontas Outreach - Cinda Joynt Numbers Served Number of Families Served In May 2014: Emmet 91 Palo Alto 76 and Pocahontas 70 Number of Families Served YTD: Emmet 532, Palo Alto 403 and Pocahontas 383 No. of Individuals Served In May 2014: Emmet 200, Palo Alto 152 and Pocahontas 145 Number of Individuals Served YTD: Emmet 1,360, Palo Alto 894 and Pocahontas 930 June 21st summer begins.still waiting. My brain still seems a little foggy today with two nights of stormy weather. It is hard to sleep when the weather scanner tells you to go to the basement. I am looking forward to no more rain and sunny skies! Peg and I attended our monthly Wellness Coalition meeting June 2nd. All county walking trails were to be finished on the 13th. We went to Ayrshire to compete our trail.job complete. I attendee the Center Director s meeting in Graettinger on the 13th. There are changes coming down for CSBG and Community Action Agencies. We will be ordering food from the Food Bank of Iowa this month for all three counties. Our next order will not be until October where we will be able to pick up in Storm Lake instead of traveling all the way to Des Moines. The Rotary Club in Pocahontas is taking donations to launch a Birthday Club at the Pocahontas Outreach Office. Leonard Olson, owner, of the Kaleidoscope Factory is partnering with the Rotary collecting for the Birthday Club. Gifts or money can be dropped off at his factory or the Outreach Office. He also wants to support our Back-To-School and Christmas projects. All counties are starting to work on the Back-To-School project. - can you believe it! Sign up forms are now available in the Outreach Offices. It is a little noisy in the Palo Alto Outreach Office. The remodeling has begun. It will be so nice. We can t wait to see the finished offices. SMALL BUT MIGHTY! The Palo Alto Outreach Office fell short on volunteer help to unload their food truck from the Iowa Food Bank. Program Assistant Peg Martini s grandson Dylan Rehm (left) and his friend Braeden Bennet (right) stepped in to help. The two twelve year olds may be small in stature but they got the semi unloaded in notime! Their help was much appreciated. Thanks boys!!

11 July 2014 Hamilton, Humboldt, Webster, & Wright Outreach - Mary Ohrtman Page 11 Number of Families Served: Hamilton 109, Humboldt 59, Webster 248, Wright 118 TOTAL 534 Number of Individuals Served: Hamilton 331, Humboldt 138, Webster 476, Wright 266 TOTAL 1,211 Year to Date Families Served: Hamilton 665, Humboldt 374, Webster 1,978, Wright 580 TOTAL 3,597 Year to Date Individuals Served: Hamilton 1,666, Humboldt 875, Webster 4,576, Wright 1,427 TOTAL 8,544 Staff: In Humboldt County continues to be short one staff person. We are going to be looking for a Temporary Outreach Specialist position at 24 hours per week in this county to help assist. Monetary Donations Hamilton County $1, Humboldt County $1, Webster County $6, Wright County $1, Total Monetary Donations in all Four Counties: $10,382 Happenings: Hamilton, Humboldt, Webster and Wright Outreach continue to have request for energy assistance. In the month of June my staff assisted 20 families with Emergency Energy Utility funds. In Webster County Ohrtman and staff meet with St. Mark Episcopal Church discussing this particular need in our community. Through this conversation St. Mark s mailed a check to us in the amount of $1, to be used for Webster County families. The funds are to be used in $50.00 increments towards utilities, rent or transportation needs. We are excited about this new continual funding partnership we have developed with St. Mark Episcopal Church. Well the wait is over for the Teresa Treat Stearns Charitable Trust and the Town and Country Insurance Grants. Hamilton County was awarded $1, from the Teresa Treat Stearns Grant for their Back to School Program. Webster County was denied the Teresa Treat Stearns Grant this year. All four counties were denied the Town and Country Insurance Grant again this year. Ohrtman applied for a $ Kohl s Cares grant for Webster County this month. Ohrtman also received some surprise funding from F&CAT (Family and Community Action Team) through CFI (Children and Families of Iowa). Joy Thoma the F&CAT coordinator from CFI contacted Ohrtman for they had some left over funds that needed to be used by June 30 th. Through this conversation Joy was able to supply Outreach with the following items: Hamilton County received $ in school supplies, Humboldt County received $ in school supplies, Webster County received $ in school supplies and Wright County received 6 fans for families and $ in funding towards back packs. Fort Dodge Community Foundation and United Way also purchased 20 fans for families in Webster County. Ohrtman is excited about the wonderful partnerships that are forming! May Emergency Solutions Grant News (ESG): une Emergency Solutions Grant News (ESG): Hamilton County assisted 1 security rent deposit, 1 rent payment, 1 past due utility and 1 utility deposit. Webster County assisted 2 security rent deposits, 1 rent payment, 1 past due utility and 1 utility deposit. Two ESG applications were denied. The Wm. Morrison Trust funds in Hamilton County assisted 6 families with utility assistance. Let s talk food! In Hamilton County Faith United Methodist Church and First Congregational UCC held their annual Ice Cream Social with proceeds going to the UDMO food pantry. ICCC delivered food from the Food Bank this month to Hamilton and Wright County. We were busy with the Back to School and Coats for Kids planning this month. Webster County is gearing up for their Stuff the Bus fundraiser that will be held on July 11 th in Fort Dodge at the Hy-Vee parking lot from 9AM to 3PM. Kim Motl educated Outreach staff about the new TBRA program at our monthly staffing. All Outreach staff in Ohrtman s area took the Food Bank TEFAP Civil Rights Training. Ohrtman attended a meeting with Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance and learned about some great ways they can help spread the word about UDMO services and programs in Webster County. Even though June 30th left us on a WET note we are looking forward to see what July has to offer! J Happy and Safe 4 th of July everyone!

12 July 2014 Page 12 Dickinson, O Brien, and Osceola County Outreach Annette Eckert Numbers Served Number of Families Served: Dickinson 83, O Brien 46, Osceola 17 Number of Individuals Served: Dickinson 158, O Brien 135, Osceola 41 YTD Families Served: Dickinson 654, O Brien 514, Osceola 259 YTD Individuals Served: Dickinson 1,395, O Brien 1,252, Osceola 553 Current Events It is with deep regret that we are saying good-bye to Outreach Specialist, Melinda Wester in O Brien County. Melinda has been with UDMO for over three years. She has been a friendly and helpful face in O Brien County to the clients we serve. Her joyful and positive attitude will be missed. Melinda has taken a position as a customer service representative with TCA in Sanborn, Iowa. They are fortunate to have gained her as an employee. Melinda had the following to say: I have loved being a part of Upper Des Moines Opportunity and gaining knowledge for my future. I enjoyed getting to know everyone I work with as well as everyone we serve. As some may say, we all take a different path in life, but you never really leave a place or person you love, part of them you take with you, leaving a part of yourself behind. I was able to speak at a Sibley Kiwanis meeting in June. I shared with them the programming offered through Outreach. I was also able to speak with them regarding the Angel Funds and the current efforts to build this fund. The Sibley Kiwanis was generous to this cause and made a donation to support the children and youth in Osceola County. Many thanks to them! Upcoming Events: The 2014 ICAA Conference will be held on July 9 11 with many topics to be covered. Attendance of this conference was opened up to all Outreach staff and I, as well as Deb Weir, Outreach Specialist in Dickinson County, will be attending. We are hoping to bring back some valuable information to share with other staff. Many topics of interest will be available. In Dickinson County the Back to School program is underway. Steps have been taken to obtain the necessary funding for this program and we are happy to say that donations are beginning to flow in. Our goal is to support every child/ youth that qualifies with $150 of back to school clothes. We will be partnering with Bomgaars again for this project. Shopping day for the children and youth is scheduled for Sunday, August 10.

13 June 2014 Page 13 Clay County Outreach - Anita Jorgensen Numbers Served Number of Families Served 143 Number of Individuals Served 282 Year to Date Families Served 789 Year to Date Individuals Served 1,767 Current Events Clay Outreach has completed the Spencer United Way Application for The Kick Off will be in August. At that time, we are required to call on assigned businesses for pledges while providing information about our agency. We re hoping to receive the amount we requested this year. With all the rain we received in June we re waiting for Clay County to be declared a disaster area by the Governor. When/if that happens we will be providing application assistance for those affected in their homes by flooding. Buena Vista County Joan Spooner Numbers Served Number of Families Served 168 Number of Individuals Served 523 Year to Date Families Served 721 Year to Date Individuals Served 2,105 Current Events We are in full swing with Back to School projects getting kids signed up for back packs, school clothes & school clothing. Buena Vista County was declared a disaster by the governor the end of June and we are anticipating many individuals will be affected by the flooding. We are currently taking applications for this program. Upcoming Events We will be assisting flood victims with the Individual Iowa Disaster Assistance Program. The northern part of the county seems to be the largest affected by the flooding.