Mid-Iowa Community Action -Mica- Incorporated

MICA HELPS FAMILIES EXPERENCING POVERTY MEET THEIR NEEDS, BUILD ON THEIR STRENGTHS, AND ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.

CHILD DEVELOPMENT - HEAD START & EARLY START: MID-IOWA COMMUNITY ACTION INC (MICA) WAS FUNDED TO SERVE 208 HEAD START & 76 EARLY HEAD START CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. HEAD START SERVED A TOTAL OF 221 PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AND EARLY HEAD START SERVED A TOTAL OF 101 INFANTS AND TODDLERS AND 7 PREGNANT WOMEN DURING THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR. INFANTS & TODDLERS ENROLLED IN THE MICA EARLY HEAD START (EHS) PROGRAM RECEIVED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THROUGH CENTER-BASED PROGRAMMING OR HOME-BASED PROGRAMMING. PRESCHOOLERS ENROLLED IN THE MICA HEAD START (HS) PROGRAM RECEIVED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THROUGH CENTER-BASED PROGRAMMING. CHILDREN RECEIVING SERVICES IN CENTER-BASED PROGRAMMING WERE PROVIDED NUTRITIOUS FOOD THAT MET USDA CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. ENROLLED CHILDREN RECEIVED SCREENINGS, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENTAL, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, HEARING, VISION, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, NUTRITION AND BLOOD LEAD LEVEL SCREENINGS. OF THE HEAD START CHILDREN SERVED, 15% HAD A DIAGNOSED DISABILITY AND 12% OF THE EARLY HEAD START CHILDREN SERVED HAD A DIAGNOSED DISABILITY. ALL EHS AND HS CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH A DISABILITY RECEIVED INTERVENTION SERVICES. FAMILIES OF ENROLLED CHILDREN RECEIVED ASSESSMENTS AND REFERRAL SERVICES, HOME VISITS, SOCIALIZATION OPPORTUNITIES, PARENT EDUCATION TRAINING AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. E.G. POLICY COUNCIL.

FAMILY DEVELOPMENT - PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP LOW-INCOME FAMILIES RISE OUT OF POVERTY. THE ORGANIZATION'S FAMILY DEVELOPMENT MODEL UTILIZES ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS WITH FAMILIES TO DEVELOP GOALS, MANAGE FINANCES, AND PROVIDE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE. THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS FIVE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT CENTERS THAT SERVE AS A BASE OF OPERATIONS FOR THESE SERVICES IN HARDIN, MARSHALL, TAMA, STORY AND POWESHIEK COUNTIES.

THE WEATHERIZATION AND ENERGY PROGRAMS PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN WEATHERIZING THEIR HOMES. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, MICA COMPLETED THE WEATHERIZATION OF 82 HOMES AT AN AVERAGE COST OF $19,582.65 EACH. ANOTHER 32 HOMES WERE SURVEYED AND NOT FOUND SUITABLE FOR WEATHERIZATION DURING THIS TIME. THIS MADE FOR A TOTAL OF 114 HOMES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. THE LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN PAYING THEIR HEAT BILLS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2023, MID-IOWA COMMUNITY ACTION, INC (MICA) PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO 3,959 FAMILIES. UNDER THE PROJECT UTILITIES AND EMBRACE PROGRAMS, 438 FAMILIES RECEIVED ASSISTANCE DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.

HEALTH & NUTRITION: PROGRAMS FOCUS ON REFERRAL SERVICES, CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH HEALTH CARE, DENTAL CARE, AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN THEIR AREA. PROGRAMS ALSO PROVIDE EARLY AND PERIODIC SCREENINGS AND REFERRALS FOR CHILDREN, SO PARENTS CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN'S HEALTH. PROGRAMS INCLUDE WOMEN, INFANTS & CHILDREN (WIC) WHICH PROVIDES NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION TO ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT, ARE BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS, OR WHO HAVE AN INFANT CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE YEARS. 5,678 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN WIC DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. DENTAL - THE I-SMILE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN'S DENTAL CARE, AND SEALANTS APPLIED IN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO 3RD AND 7TH GRADERS. MICA'S SEALANT PROGRAM PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO 779 CHILDREN DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. CHILD AND MATERNAL HEALTH - ASSESSES CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND RECOMMENDS LOCAL RESOURCES, PROVIDES RESOURCES TO HELP WITH ACCESS TO HEALTH AND DENTAL INSURANCE, AND INCLUDES THE BREASTFEEDING PEER COUNSELORS' PROGRAM AND OTHERS. MICA PROVIDED THESE SERVICES TO 5,133 CHILD HEALTH PARTICIPANTS AND 88 MATERNAL HEALTH PARTICIPANTS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.