Sieda hosts community relations meeting Wednesday at fairgrounds

Sieda Community Action hosted a community relations group meeting Wednesday afternoon at the Jefferson County Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Office.

The meeting was intended to inform local organizations as well as community members about Sieda?s services and offerings to residents who are slightly above, at or below the poverty level.

?We started these meetings in April, and we?ve been working our way through our seven core counties,? said Luke Ridout, the organization?s data and outreach specialist. ?Anyone who wants to find out about our services or share their experiences are welcome to attend.?

Ridout said the meetings were preceded by a four-week intensive session on poverty that took place in each of the seven counties last year.

?We discussed what poverty looks like in the Jefferson County area. The last one was in Keokuk, and we talked about what the causes and effects are of poverty in that area,? he said. ?We figured out some solutions to help lessen poverty. We had a really nice turn out for that last year, and we?re always seeking to provide new opportunities for the community to engage with Sieda. The [community relations group] is a new opportunity.?

During Wednesday?s meeting, Sieda?s deputy director Tammy Hotek provided an overview of the organization, and its many grant-funded offerings, such as reduced cost behavior health services including drug and alcohol counseling, housing stabilization including heating assistance during the winter and parenting support services.

?It was very informative. A lot of people don?t know about the services that are offered through Sieda or the ISU Extension and Outreach Office,? said Stan Hughes, director of Jefferson County ISU Extension and Outreach. ?People need to know that there are services out here that they should take full advantage of.?

Ridout said depending on the program, residents could be as high as 185 percent above the government?s poverty line and still qualify.

?We use the poverty chart, but for many of our programs, you don?t have to income-qualify,? he said, adding that residents are encouraged to contact Sieda for more information about a particular program.

During each community relations group meeting, the organization intends to explain a particular Sieda program in-depth.

?That?s why we?re holding these conversations, so organizations and community members will gain clarity about what each one of our programs offer,? Ridout said.

In addition to program details, during Wednesday?s meeting, attendees were asked what a community free of poverty should look like.

?We have a time where people can write down individual answers to share with the broader group,? Ridout said. ?I think it went pretty well. We had a decent turnout, and more people are certainly invited. We will also be serving a complimentary lunch as well.?

The meetings are open to the public and are held quarterly.

?We?ll be announcing the next meeting on our website at www. Sieda.org and on Facebook at Sieda Community Action,? Ridout said.

For more information about Community Relations Group meetings, contact Ridout at 800 622-8340 ext. 171. For information about Sieda?s various programs go to www. Sieda.org.