Committee Purpose Statement | Current Projects | Community Partners | Training Opportunities

Community Partners

The School Ready/Health Committee of the Dubuque County Empowerment Board partners with the following organizations:

 

• City of Dubuque's Health Services Department

The City of Dubuque's Health Services Department serves as a resource of public health information and expertise to the School Ready/Health Committee and works with the committee's projects. The Health Services Department's Public Health Specialist serves on the Empowerment Board. To access more information on the City of Dubuque's Health Services Department, go to www.cityofdubuque.org. To contact the Health Services Department, call (563) 589-4181.

• Department of Human Services (DHS)

DHS is a state-government agency providing essential human services for those in need. Programs include financial assistance to low-income families; Medicaid health insurance; foster care; adoption; services for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled; and social work services for families that experience abuse or neglect. DHS is responsible for child abuse investigations and treatment as well as regulatory responsibilities for child care and other state certified entities. Look for more information on DHS at www.dhs.state.ia.us or call (563) 557-8251.

• Dubuque Community School District (DCSD)

The Dubuque Community School District is the public school system serving the city of Dubuque and portions of Dubuque County. The DCSD works in association with the School Ready/Health Committee on ongoing projects and is represented on the Empowerment Board. For more information, access www.dubuque.k12.ia.us or call the Student Services Supervisor at (563) 588-5100.

• Eastern Iowa System of Catholic Education (EISCE)

The EISCE is the parochial system of schools located in the Western Dubuque School District. For more information, go to www.arch.pvt.k12.ia.us or call (563) 582-5456.

• Four Oaks

Four Oaks, Inc., of Iowa is one of the largest not-for-profit, child welfare/juvenile justice agencies in Iowa, serving over 5000 people annually throughout the state. With offices in 12 Iowa cities including Dubuque, Four Oaks offers services to all 99 counties. Four Oaks is nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children, Inc.

Four Oaks provides family-based programs that help children grow into caring, competent, and responsible adults and encourages development of community attitudes and support systems to assure their success. Four Oaks administers the Parents As Teachers program, facilitated by the Dubuque County Empowerment Board.

For more information, go to www.fouroaks.org or call (563) 585-0112.

• Four Oaks/Cornerstone

Cornerstone, a program of Four Oaks, Inc., is a voluntary, strength-based home-visiting program that serves 80 low-income families in Dubuque County. Four Oaks is the largest of 18 grantees across the state of Iowa. The Four Oaks Cornerstone program currently serves families across an eight county area (Benton, Iowa, Dubuque, Delaware, Linn, Jones, Washington, and Johnson counties). Cornerstone can help families break down the barriers that prevent them from leaving welfare permanently. Cornerstone was established through funding from the state of Iowa's Family Development and Self-Sufficiency (FaDSS) Grant Program — a program that recognizes that leaving welfare is hard to do alone. Family Support Workers partner with families to develop and set goals for a variety of things, such as attaining additional schooling or training, finding employment, obtaining affordable daycare, securing transportation, and achieving self-sufficiency. Along the path to success, some families may need help locating additional resources or they may have other barriers that need to be addressed before reaching their ultimate goal of self-sufficiency. Their Family Support Worker will be an advocate for the family by making necessary referrals and offering support within the community.

Cornerstone's partnership with Parents As Teachers (PAT) helps families receive two incredible services while having only one worker come into their home. Of the 80 families Cornerstone serves in Dubuque County, at least 30 -35% also receive PAT. All Cornerstone staff are certified in Parents As Teachers and use that knowledge and expertise with families throughout their home visits. These programs blend nicely together, as the philosophies are the same. Both are a voluntary and free service for families that hold to the strength-based philosophy.

For more information regarding Cornerstone or to make a referral, please contact Danielle Leeser at dleeser@fouroaks.org or call (563) 557-3100, ext. 207.

• Head Start

Head Start is a federally funded preschool program for qualifying families with children between the ages of three and five years old. There are 11 Head Start classrooms in Dubuque County — nine in the city of Dubuque; one in Epworth; and one in Dyersville.

Listed is a sample of the things that Head Start helps teach children:

• Socialization skills
• Language development
• Literacy development
• Health and safety skills

Head Start offers a sense of belonging. Families are encouraged to be involved in the activities offered through our programs. Classroom time includes many different activities. Children are encouraged to talk about their ideas and experiences. The children are involved in planning their activities. They can choose among art activities, blocks, table toys, science and math activities, books, sand and water play, music, and dramatic play.

For further information about Head Star call (563) 556-5130, ext. 39.

• Hillcrest Family Services

Hillcrest Family Services administers the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in addition to a variety of other services. WIC provides nutrition and health information during and after pregnancy to help take care of infants and young children; breastfeeding support; health screening and assisting in immunizations and lead testing; and food vouchers/checks for healthy foods like milk, eggs, cheese, fruit juice, peanut butter, cereals, and infant formula.

Hillcrest's goal is to help keep women, and their children under five, healthy and strong.

WIC may be able to help if you. . .

• Live in Iowa.
• Are pregnant or have a child under five years of age.
• Have a nutritional need.
• Have a household income that is less than or equal to the income guidelines.

Call (563) 557-4444 for Dubuque and Dyersville information. The Hillcrest office is located at 220 W. 7th Street in Dubuque. To link to Hillcrest's web site, go to www.hillcrest-fs.org.

• Holy Family Catholic Schools

Holy Family is the parochial school system serving the city of Dubuque. Holy Family works in conjunction with the School Ready/Health Committee on current projects and is represented on the Empowerment Board. For more information, go to www.arch.pvt.k12.ia.us or call (563) 582-5456.

• Iowa State University (ISU) Extension Service for Dubuque County

ISU Extension's mission is to build partnerships and provide research-based learning opportunities to improve quality of life in Iowa. For further information, access www.extension.iastate.edu/Counties/dubuque.html or call (563) 583-6496.

• Juvenile Court Services (JCS)

JCS works with juveniles who have committed a delinquent act (i.e., any juvenile under age 18 who has committed a crime) and reports to the Juvenile Court for open court cases. A representative from JCS serves on the School Ready/Health Committee and also on the Dubuque County Empowerment Board. For more information, call the JCS office at (563) 589-7831.

• Keystone Area Education Agency (AEA)

Keystone AEA is dedicated to providing children with quality educational opportunities and services through partnerships with local schools, teachers, and parents. To access the Keystone AEA web site, go to www.aea1.k12.ia.us. For further information, call (563) 556-3310.

• Project Concern (PC)

Project Concern's goal is to connect people in need with services, including families and individuals of all ages. PC seeks to fill the gaps in the social safety net while avoiding duplication of services. To locate Project Concern on the web, go to www.pcrta.org. To contact Project Concern, call (563) 557-8331.

• Visiting Nurse Association (VNA)

The VNA is the Child Health provider for the Iowa Department of Public Health in Dubuque County. As an advocate for child health issues, the VNA has worked closely with the School Ready/Health Committee of the Empowerment Board.

The VNA received an Empowerment grant to provide emergent medical and dental care for children aged 0-5 years without financial resources to access care. These funds also can be used to pay for physical examinations needed for school entry.

The VNA web site can be accessed at http://www.finleyhospital.org/body.cfm?id=77.
To contact the VNA, call (563) 556-6200 or 1-800-862-6133.

• Western Dubuque County Community School District (WDCCSD)
  

The WDCCSD is the public school system serving the Western Dubuque County area. The WDCCSD works in conjunction with the School Ready/Health Committee on ongoing projects and is represented on the Empowerment Board. The WDCCSD web site is located at
www.w-dubuque.k12.ia.us. To contact WDCCSD, call the Superintendent at (563) 744-3885.