Helping Services for Northeast Iowa, Inc.
(Formerly Decorah Information Center)
Helping Services, as it is known today, was incorporated as the Decorah Information Center in 1973. This was in response to a need for services directed at youth in crisis. It has emerged into a vital community resource that serves 11 counties in northeast Iowa. Our programs cover the range of substance abuse prevention, domestic and sexual abuse prevention, family support programs, and mentoring. To read more about our current programs, visit our About Us page.
TIMELINE
1970: Activity begins under the guidance of a group of community activists in the Decorah area. A 'trouble line' is established which provides a 24 hour telephone help line for young adults with a focus on drug and alcohol abuse, and suicide. Telecheck provides daily telephone checks with homebound elderly. Pregnancy counseling offers both adoption and abortion information and support.
1973: The agency is incorporated as the Decorah Information Center. Programs include the Trouble Line, The Hobbit Hole, teen drop in center, and the Summer Institute at Luther College. This institute is a Drug Abuse and Social Action program that focuses on intensive training for educators in substance abuse prevention.
1978: Name change to Helping Services for Northeast Iowa. Services for Abused Women program is established, and the Trouble Line is re-named Help Line. Substance abuse prevention activities fall under the program name Educational Services with funding from the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH). Counties served include Allamakee, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek
1980: Agency opened its first shelter for battered women. It was closed that same year and reopened in a new location. Closing was due to lack of security. All program and administrative offices were housed at the same location. A program coordinator for the Services for Abused Women is terminated after one year of service due to failure to follow programming protocols.
1982: The agency is invited by IDPH to provide substance abuse prevention services in Dubuque and Delaware Counties. The agency that was the service provider closed due to financial and programming irregularities. This brings the service area to 9 counties.
1983: A third shelter/office is opened in Decorah. A shelter manager is hired to staff the shelter in the evening and on weekends. A fundraiser is brought on staff to focus on local dollars to replace the county revenue sharing funds used to finance domestic violence programming. Late in the year this shelter closes due to lack of funds and security issues. Fundraising position is not continued.
1984: Board of Director's separates program administrative functions by creating two program director positions, both of which report directly to them. This was done in order to separate program finances since Educational Services reserves were being drawn too low to fund domestic violence work. An infusion of cash provided by a personal loan from the Educational Services Director stabilized the substance abuse prevention budget and Services for Abused Women program was left to fend for itself.
The programs separate into separate offices for the first time. Educational Services rents space at Luther College, providing space for a ten hour per week bookkeeper and work space for the Program Director. The prevention staff worked out of their homes with the exception of Dubuque, where offices are shared with the Substance Abuse Services Center.
Services for Abused Women opens the Window Antique Shop on Water Street in Decorah and maintains their offices out of the back of the store. Vendors rent space to display antiques and Services for Abused Women has rent free space. Several small event fund raisers start, including an annual used book sale. County money continues to decrease, and state funds are small - around $6,000.
1985: Services for Abused Women becomes Services for Abused Women and Their Children. The program serves 7 counties.
Educational Services loses funding for work in Clayton County. Staff turnover in prevention programming is high with the average tenure less than one year. Prevention programming consisted of a puppet program called BABES (Basic Alcohol Beginning Education Series), Peer Helping, Student Assistance Team Training, and information/education presentations.
1986: Program Director for Education Services, Julia Malia, resigns after seven years and David Runyon is hired as a replacement. Program offices are opened up in Decorah and a used computer is purchased. A phone system is installed, and the first non-state grant is secured from the McElroy Trust to fund Drugs, Alcohol, and Athletics programming in eight northeast Iowa high schools.
1987: Services for Abused Women and Their Children drops out of The Window and sets up offices in the Smith Building in Decorah. A new Helping Services mast head is developed and used on stationery.
Educational Services expands programming by charging fees to schools. These fees are paid by a new federal funding source called Drug Free Schools and Communities, which provides grants to schools. Educational Services buys the first agency copier and the first electric typewriter. The federal Action Drug Alliance funds a one year project called 'Howard County for Drug Free Youth." Staff in Dubuque expands from two to four program people, and one support staff.
1988: Agency Board moves to unify the agency under one executive in order to stabilize the finances of the Services for Abused Women program. David Runyon is appointed Executive Director of Helping Services for Northeast Iowa, Inc.
Separate offices are maintained. Several months of back wages are paid to the departing Director and the Program Coordinator who remains on the staff. The volunteer force dwindles to seven people. A large direct mail solicitation was sent to 5,000 registered women voters in Winneshiek County. Proceeds covered the cost of the mailing and establish the first list of individual donors to Services for Abused Women and Their Children. A group of Decorah women agree to meet with David Runyon to look at ways of increasing giving to Services for Abused Women. This effort is dropped before the first meeting because of increased grant funding and a stabilizing of the program budget.
A local group interested in child care asks Helping Services to write a grant for Information and Referral Services. The grant is received and a new program is established under the agency umbrella.
A grant for innovative programming is received from IDPH to fund a one year program entitled 'Drugs, Alcohol, and Domestic Violence.'
1989: Agency is relocated to downtown Decorah and all programs are brought under one roof. Purchase of first new computer takes place. The Program Coordinator for Services for Abused Women and Their Children resigns suddenly and is replaced by the volunteer coordinator and client advocate. The program does not pay for any overhead costs which are borne entirely by Educational Services.
Educational Services expands into media work by hiring a media specialist. The newsletter, Prevention Quarterly is set in motion for a seven year run and much state and national attention.
First annual prevention staff retreat is held as a two day planning retreat at Eagle Inn and Resort in Galena, Illinois. In 1991 this becomes an all staff retreat with focus on general staff development.
1990: Event fundraisers are developed to expand donations to Services for Abused Women and Their Children. These included a Christmas Tree Tour of Homes in Cresco; a Style Show, Luncheon and Raffle in Decorah; and the Nordic Fest Moo-Mobile. An annual appeal to churches is continued with the fall domestic violence program mailing. Annual giving to Services for Abused Women and Their Children begins to climb for the first time.
A Family Fun Night packet is an addition to Family Talk, an informational newsletter for churches funded by IDPH. The publication goes state-wide.
1991: The Decorah office employs the first of many work study students from Luther College.
A large federal grant written to the Office of Health and Human Services for work in Dubuque was approved but did not make the cut for funding. The Dubuque Schools Coordinator position is moved ‘in house’ reducing our contract with the Dubuque CSD by half. State funding for domestic violence/sexual assault services increases.
1992: This is the first year for use of substance abuse High Risk Youth grants to fund work at Central Alternative High School in Dubuque and Child Advocate for Services for Abused Women and Their Children. KIND (Kid’s Issues, Needs, and Direction) Club programming is established. Northeast Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence is established.
Agency salaries show improvement and serious attention is given to benefits by adding a Flexible Spending Account for medical expenses, childcare, legal, or increasing salary. 13 people are on staff this year in Decorah and Dubuque.
1993: With the Iowa Trust Scandal, $17,000 annual support is lost from Dubuque County. A fulltime position funded by the Dubuque Community School District is cut to half time. The prevention staff is facing a round of cuts in staff and programming.
Agency Board explores fundraising with a special consultant brought in by Tom Murray, treasure and chair of the fundraising initiative. Some board members are reluctant to pursue a more aggressive fundraising strategy and the effort drops.
1994: Floods throughout Iowa in 1993 result in a special grant for prevention programming. $116,000 has to be spent within nine months. Programs for increased services in domestic violence and prevention are established with current staff providing all of the programming. 22 special projects involving youth community service are funded with these dollars as well and the staff ending the fall close to burnout.
In June of this year the current facility at 805 East Main was purchased using Prevention reserves as a down payment. The staff took on the project of redecorating the house. $44,000 in additional renovations are done by hired contractors to make the house into an office. The move into this office is accomplished October 1st.
New logo and mast head are developed. October 1995, Board approves and commits to first agency strategic plan called Vision 2000.
1996: Educational Services drops as the name of the Substance Abuse Prevention program.
Increases in state funds allows for expansion of the Services for Abused Women and Their Children staff to include a Volunteer Coordinator, Sexual Assault Educator, and two Child Advocates. The latter two positions are funded with substance abuse dollars from Drug and Violence grants. Promised expansion of funding through the Iowa Department of Justice for Domestic and Sexual Abuse results in a decision to use these substance abuse dollars to fund a new project in Farley, Iowa, for 5th and 6th graders at the middle school.
Group Health Insurance and 401K are added as benefits... Family Talk is moved from Comprehensive Prevention to an expanded project under a New and Innovative Grant, and Prevention Quarterly is discontinued after a very successful run. Mette Hammer accepts a new position as program developer/grant writer. All event fundraising is dropped.
1997: The Childcare Information and Referral Service is turned over to Exceptional Persons in Waterloo. The Dubuque office moves from the Clock Tower Plaza to Iowa Street.
Expected increase in state domestic violence money does not materialize and one child advocate is released. The program name of Services for Abused Women and Their Children is changed to The Domestic and Sexual Abuse Resource Center to have a broader appeal. The program obtains a shelter house in Allamakee County. This house is used on a limited basis for clients with minimal safety risks.
1998: Helping Services celebrates its 25th year with a special event in August at Luther College Farm Park. Staff and their families, board members, and special guests enjoy a meal and short informational program.
New projects are added as a result of focused grant writing: Child Advocacy in Fayette and Buchanan Counties; Safe and Stable Families to support Building Bridges through Mentoring, My Club, and Mentoring Mania mentoring programs in Winneshiek, Howard and Allamakee counties respectively; the Community Connection School Based Youth Services Project in Allamakee County; and the Family Support Project in Dubuque. The agency now manages 16 state and federal grants. The last issue of Family Talk is published in December.
Payroll and accounting is performed by the Fiscal Manager in house for the first time.
1999: New expansion in programming results in largest increase in budget and staff in agency history. Two new programs, Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Juvenile Delinquency Prevention, are added in the northern counties.
Budget is now over $800,000. This comes at a time when the Department of Justice asks us to reduce the size of our services area and cuts our funding for sexual assault services. The program is reduced to 4 counties from 7. Counties no longer served by the program are Buchanan, Chickasaw, and Allamakee.
With the resignation of the supervisor for domestic violence/sexual assault services the position of Program Services Director is created to oversee the programming of the agency. Program teams are created to work in prevention and crisis intervention. Time sheets, known as project logs, are used for the first time to document time on the job. This comes as a directive from funders. The Administrative Assistant’s position has expanded to include computer technical support.
The staff totals 25 people. Agency holds its 10th annual staff retreat at Four Mounds in Dubuque. 21 staff participated with 12 spending the night in this beautiful location.
2000: Funding for tobacco prevention is used for work in Dubuque. The agency will also take the lead for IDPH funds to do this prevention work with area coalitions. Funding for the HOPES parenting program begins. A study of the feasibility of domestic violence shelter services is explored. It was determined that shelter services are cost prohibitive.
An Innovative Substance Abuse Prevention grant serves the community of Postville, a small United Nations. A bi-lingual staff person is hired to provide multicultural outreach and increase educational opportunities to the immigrant population. Multi-national soccer games became the highlight of fall evenings. A letter to schools in the northern counties shows 8 prevention programs offered to youth. Building Bridges Through Mentoring hosts its third birthday party.
Cash flow continues to be a concern as the agency expands, using up agency reserves at a faster pace than the Board is comfortable with using. The operating note is expanded. The agency continues to have strong audits in compliance and finances.
2001: Grant writer is promoted to Director of Program Planning and Development. Agency budget is almost $900,000. Funding from Safe and Stable Families, some mentoring, and Juvenile Delinquency Planning is managed by our local Empowerment/Decat Board. Budget cuts dominate discussions. Staff size drops from 27 to 21.
The agency is asked to take a lead in two state (SIG) and one federal Drug Free Communities (DFC) for the Valley Community Coalition (VCC) and Dubuque Area Community Coalition. The energy of the VCC is contagious with community meetings drawing large crowds for Barney Burgers. They are receiving attention at the state level.
The Dubuque office will participate in a USC research project entitled Prevention Works: The Next Step. Dave ‘reluctantly’ goes to Estes Park, CO for training. Four prevention staff are caught in North Carolina at a training on September 11th, sad for the events in New York and wanting to find a way home to their families.
2002: The Board encourages a long range strategic planning process with outside facilitation from Jeff Leschensky and Gary Kelsey. The process includes board members, administrative, and program staff. Long term goals include creating a more diverse and well trained Board of Directors, investment of resources in fund development, and creation of a comprehensive marketing plan to lessen public confusion of our umbrella agency.
Agency receives two $100,000 grants to help support substance abuse prevention work in the Valley Community School District - DFC Support grant and Iowa SIG. Office space opens in Clermont for the VCC. A SIG project opens in Dubuque. These projects move the agency budget to over a million dollars for the first time. The staff increases by 5.5 people.
A ‘Rocking Chair’ project is funded in Postville in response to the Sept. 11th tragedy in New York City. Diverse community members are asked to decorate rocking chairs to celebrate cultural diversity. 36 different nationalities will be represented from the Postville Community.
Comprehensive Prevention work is moving away from school-based work to community organizing strategies. School work is being limited to 20% of all direct service time. Four staff go to Washington D.C. to receive researched-based program training. Funding for the Postville Innovative Project is not renewed with funding being diverted to mentoring initiatives. Domestic violence program begins to collect recyclable cell phones.
A workgroup volunteers to tear down and rebuild the badly leaning garage for the cost of materials. Agency cash flow strengthens during this year. Non grant-based income rises, allowing Decorah office computers to be networked, installation of a voice mail system, and garage work. Agency retreat is a success at Backbone State Park in Fayette County.
2003: Dubuque office moves to Fountain Park on Asbury to a newly remodeled nunnery connected to a restaurant remodeled in the church sanctuary. An IDPH Drug and Violence grant to work on bullying strategies is received.
New committees form on the Board to include marketing, board development, and fund development representing the focuses of the strategic plan. A consultant is hired to work with each board committee on marketing coordination. This plan leads to the hiring of Jenkins Industries as a consultant to provide comprehensive marketing and fund development.
Fayette County is funded from the Iowa Attorney General’s Office to start a domestic violence response team (DASART)
Domestic violence client load is high, reflecting world unrest at the time. Director of Program Planning and Development resigns. Position will not be filled with work being redistributed to staff and new Development Director consultant.
Funding trend lines include an increase in County and United Way funds, with a decrease in City and fee generated funds. Donations remain flat. Mileage reimbursement is increased from $.26 to $.28 per mile. Staff is treated to an annual holiday lunch at Grand Harbor Inn in Dubuque following a trolley car ride to the Mississippi.
2004: Decorah office remodels to make larger reception area and workroom. Agency receives 8 refurbished laptop computers to allow more staff mobility in their service areas.
Fund Development Director introduces ‘Getting to Know Helping Services’ coffees in the Decorah office. Agency video is created using the expertise of a high school student. Agency website www.helpingservices.org is created by an NICC website class. A ‘Healthy Lifestyles 2005’ calendar is produced using area mentee artwork. Holiday cards are also produced for sale as a fund raiser, a part of a larger marketing/fund development plan.
Domestic violence program looks at options for transitional housing units as compared to emergency shelter. Several education staff are invited to do state and national trainings. The agency picks up approved expenses.
Board looks at strategies to improve staff retention including salary increases and incentives. Executive Director begins 20th year of service. In his honor, a Children and Family Endowment Fund is established by the Board.
2005: Agency adopts a Health Savings Account to replace current health insurance, no longer contributing to a FLEX plan. The staff totals 22 full and part time people. Paid leave accounting shifts to a Sept- Aug. cycle.
A Terrace Garden Party is held to support the newly created Endowment Fund. Larry Grimstad, first president of the Board of the Decorah Information Center, moderated the evening. A client shared her story, adding to the impact of the evening. The Endowment is housed by the Northeast Iowa Community Foundation out of Waterloo.
Agency sponsors the first Holiday Light, Magical Nights, a fund raising event using community volunteers for 39 nights beginning at Thanksgiving and ending New Year’s Eve.
Resource Center receives a $844,000 2 year federal Office on Violence Against Women grant to hire 5.5 new positions to be housed in the attached parsonage of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville. Emphasis will be on building faith community outreach, bi-lingual advocacy, large media campaign, and building additional coordinated community response to domestic violence.
SIG funding ends for the VCC. The DFC grant moves to the Office of Health and Human Services, changing the focus from youth development to community-wide change. Mentoring holds its first Bowl-A-Thon.
90% of the agency’s programming is dependent upon grant funding.
2006: Agency obtains the programming of Family Support Network - the child abuse prevention program in Winneshiek County - changing agency divisions to Prevention, Family Support, and the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Resource Center. Prevention Through Mentoring funding will expand mentoring opportunities in Fayette County.
Project Coordinator of the OVW grant resigns, leaving behind a well-written Healthy Marriage Initiative grant - submitted, but unfortunately not funded.
Holiday Lights, Magical Nights reports the following statistics: 51 volunteers plan the event, 320 volunteer for evening shifts, vehicles 1,609 with estimated visitors at 4,800. Gate receipts total $14, 374, 24 staff work out of 5 regional offices – Decorah, Clermont, Guttenberg, Postville, and Oelwein. Staff meetings include time to discuss preparation for an outbreak of a pandemic. With the addition of a new printer, all agency printing is done in house.
2007: Agency receives funding to provide child abuse prevention in Howard County with Prevent Child Abuse Iowa funding, adding child sexual abuse prevention in the Family Support division’s work in Winneshiek and Howard Counties.
The first units of transitional housing open up in Fayette and Clayton Counties with the support of local churches. All agency grounds, as well as offices and vehicles where the agency is paying mileage, became smoke-free in a revised Drug Free Workplace policy.
Dubuque office receives a Great Futures! grant to work on violence prevention in Washington Middle School and surrounding community area.
Agency is moving to a ‘paperless’ filing system.
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