Newsletter / Annual Reports

If you’re interested in receiving a paper copy of our newsletter, an e-newsletter version, or want to make an address change, please reach out to info@helpingservices.org

2024

FALL & WINTER 2024. Annual Report issue. Mentoring is growing, meet all of the new mentoring coordinators! Updates on the Domestic Abuse Resource Center, and need for support with grant cuts. A look back at the 20th anniversary of Holiday Lights. EWALU Youth Leadership Day.

SPRING & SUMMER 2024. Green Dot Trainings promote safer communities; Impact of the Domestic Abuse Resource Center (DARC), Congratulations to Kathy Schwartzhoff, Mentoring Coordinator, upcoming June retirement. Congratulations to Lori Barry, Family Educator, upcoming June retirement. Clayton County Mentoring program is up and and running!

2023

SPRING & SUMMER 2023. Special issue celebrating the anniversary of the incorporation of Helping Services for Youth & Families (formerly Helping Services for Northeast Iowa). The issue looks back at what the agency has accomplished over the years, and the goals ahead.

FALL/WINTER 2023-24. ANNUAL REPORT ISSUE. Helping Services is awarded a new federal grant to enhance and expand youth mentoring. Helping Services Staff are showcased showing their involvement in their local communities.Workplace gambling toolkits available. Family Educators promote group connections among parents. Focus on school-based mentoring programs. Highlights of all programming.

2022

SPRING & SUMMER 2022. Focus on the Family Ed Program. State Opioid Response 2 grant updates, Domestic Violence Advocates present in high schools and educate on teen relationship stalking and violence, the “Ripple Effect” of mentoring.

FALL/WINTER 2022-23. ANNUAL REPORT ISSUE. Special focus, male mentors. Alcohol Server Training. Teen from Winneshiek & Delaware join ISTEP council. SPECIAL INSERT: Services offered to schools by Helping Services. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Family Educators offer fun with Zumbini.

2021

SPRING & SUMMER 2021. New grants, State Opioid Response 2, active teen groups find innovative ways to get anti-drug messages out, mentoring pairs become pen pals during Covid-19 pandemic, generous donation to mentoring program allows Youth Mentoring to dream big!

FALL & WINTER 2021-22. Focus on dating and stalking violence.  Annual statistics, number served.  Mentoring donation allows participants to go to Minnesota Twins baseball game.

2020

SPRING & SUMMER 2020. Adapting to change during COVID-19. Highest number of gifts provided to children in The Giving Project history.

FALL & WINTER 2020-21. Youth Mentoring remains strong during COVID. Helping Services receives grant “Improving Tomorrow: Prevention Focused Mentoring” focusing on substance abuse prevention and problem gambling. Resource Center receives grant from the Dept. of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) for Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program.

2019

SPRING & SUMMER 2019. Area community foundations help Youth Mentoring flourish. Helping Services is one of the few mentoring programs in the state to receive a grant from Iowa Mentoring Partnership that will focus on serving youth impacted by opioids in rural Iowa. 2018 was another record breaking year at the Holiday Lights.

FALL & WINTER 2019-20. Helping Services’ Family Education & Support Program earns the Iowa Family Support Credential.

2018

SPRING & SUMMER 2018. Volunteers help us break the Holiday Lights all-time attendance record in 2017. Winneshiek County Youth Mentoring celebrates 20th anniversary.

FALL & WINTER 2018-19. Helping Services celebrates 45 years.

2017

SPRING & SUMMER 2017. Helping Services receives grant from Farm Credit Services of America to restock supply pantry for survivors of domestic abuse.

FALL & WINTER 2017-18. Youth Mentoring makes a difference. Upper Iowa University student-athletes provide support for victims of domestic violence.