Community Impact Grants
Investing in Local Solutions. Strengthening Wapello County.
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At United Way of Wapello County, we believe the best solutions come from the communities we serve. Our Community Impact Grants are designed to support local nonprofits and grassroots organizations working to improve lives across the pillars of education, economic mobility, and health.
Each year, we invest in programs and initiatives that:
Empower families and individuals to build financial stability
Expand access to physical and mental health services
Support children, youth, and adults in achieving educational success
These grants are more than just funding—they’re partnerships. We work alongside recipients to ensure community needs are met in impactful, measurable ways.
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Nonprofit and community-based organizations serving Wapello County residents are eligible to apply. Successful applicants demonstrate:
A clear mission alignment with one or more of United Way’s priority areas
Measurable goals and strong outcomes
Fiscal responsibility and community engagement
Both new and existing programs may be considered.Description text goes here
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Community Impact Grant applications typically open in early April, with funding decisions announced in June.
Funded programs operate during our fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30.
For the latest updates on application dates, deadlines, and eligibility, be sure to check our website, follow us on social media, and sign up for our newsletter.
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We don’t just fund good intentions—we fund results.
Each grant application goes through a competitive review process led by local volunteers who evaluate:How well the program addresses needs in Health, Education, or Financial Stability
Whether the program uses proven or promising approaches
The clarity of their goals, outcomes, and evaluation plans
The strength and sustainability of their budget and partnerships
How intentionally Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are integrated into the program’s design and delivery
We invest in programs that are ready to make a measurable difference—right here in Wapello County.
Community Impact in Action: 2025’s Success Stories
Every dollar you give to the United Way of Wapello County’s Community Impact Fund supports programs that change lives.
These are real stories from real people—neighbors, students, families—whose lives have been transformed through your generosity.
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When a student showed up at school without an inhaler and struggling to breathe, Teen Health stepped in. The team provided immediate care, administered albuterol, and uncovered that the student had recently been displaced and lacked health insurance. Teen Health worked with the student's aunt to secure Medicaid coverage and a primary care provider. Today, the student continues to receive care—and hasn’t missed school due to asthma since.
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Tania, a senior at Ottumwa High School, is a shining example of youth leadership. Through Al Éxito, she’s helped peers complete FAFSA applications, pursued college credits, worked with young children, and become a role model. She’s now applying to college to become a kindergarten teacher—equipped with skills, confidence, and a community that believes in her.
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The Reading Corps member built a strong bond with her students, taking time to ask about their day and celebrate their reading achievements. This personalized attention helped 47% of students (7 children) reach their literacy goals and transition out of the program—making space for new students to receive targeted reading support.
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Maria arrived in Ottumwa with her two young daughters after fleeing abuse in another state. At Discovery Lane Early Learning Center, her girls found safety and stability. With reliable childcare, Maria secured a job, engaged in local programs, and began volunteering. She’s now on her way to buying her first home. “I came here looking for safety,” she says. “What I found was home.”
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One child came to Sieda's Child Development Center showing signs of trauma and neglect, including visible bite scars and severe self-regulation issues. After weeks of consistent, compassionate care, he began to thrive—building trust, hitting developmental milestones, and showing joy for the first time in months.
Another mother, new to the U.S. and without English fluency, asked for crayons. This simple request revealed a deeper struggle: the family had no learning materials at home. Sieda staff connected her to ELL classes and resources to help her build communication and confidence for her child’s education. -
Jeff and his wife became guardians of their infant granddaughter, Jasinez, and were relieved to find high-quality care at the AHFA Child Care Center. The staff embraced Jasinez with love and professionalism, working closely with social workers and tailoring care to her development. “She is happy every morning when she arrives. We truly believe God placed her here.”
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During a food drive, a man dropped off a donation and shared that he once relied on Lord’s Cupboard for support. Now employed and stable, he returned to give back. “We do make a difference,” staff said, “especially to those who want to become a success story.”
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After the death of her friend and co-owner, Ella faced losing her home to Medicaid Estate Recovery—even though she paid every mortgage payment herself. Iowa Legal Aid helped her apply for a hardship waiver, saving her home and giving her peace of mind.
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A survivor fleeing a long-term abusive relationship was homeless and without custody of her children. FCC provided safe housing, employment resources, and legal support. Today, the family is reunited, living in stable housing, with access to trauma-informed care and a brighter future ahead.
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A domestic violence survivor was hesitant to enter shelter, but with guidance from a CIS advocate, they found stable housing and financial support for move-in costs. Now living independently, they’re focused on long-term goals—and credit CIS and United Way for helping them turn a crisis into a new beginning.
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Two siblings placed out of state were nearly forgotten—until their CASA stepped in. She remained in contact, monitored the placement, and advocated for their needs. When the placement failed, she ensured a smooth return to Iowa and prepared the care team in advance—ensuring stability through a critical transition.
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In just six months, the Veterans Mobile Pantry distributed over 90,000 pounds of food to Wapello County families. With veteran food insecurity rates as high as 14% in rural areas, this program delivers vital nutrition and dignity—thanks to local support and generous funders like you.
💙 These stories are made possible because people like you care enough to invest in what works.
Your donation creates measurable change, one life at a time.
2026
Community Impact Grant Awardees
Youth Opportunity & Education
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Al Éxito Ottumwa empowers Latinx students in grades 6 through college with culturally rooted programming that builds academic success, leadership skills, and career readiness.
In partnership with Ottumwa Schools and Indian Hills Community College, the Ottumwa Toward Success initiative includes three afterschool programs—at Evans Middle School, Ottumwa High School (Movimiento), and Indian Hills—that provide a supportive environment for youth to thrive.
Students receive mentorship, bilingual support, academic coaching, and access to culturally relevant activities including college tours, leadership nights, and parent engagement programs.
All programming is free, accessible, and offered in both Spanish and English, breaking down barriers for families who often feel excluded from traditional school-based support systems.
Community Impact:
📚 Serves 90+ middle school, high school, and college students annually
🧠 Boosts life skills, school attendance, and postsecondary aspirations
👩🏽🎓 100% of youth served report improved life skills and higher aspirations for education
🤝 Strong local partnerships with Ottumwa Schools, IHCC, and community mentors
🌎 Promotes educational equity and culturally responsive learning for one of Ottumwa’s fastest-growing populations
Al Éxito’s programming directly addresses local disparities in graduation rates and chronic absenteeism among Latino youth—ensuring more students graduate high school on time and are prepared for college or career pathways. This aligns with United Way’s Education Impact Goal by building equity and opportunity for the next generation of local leaders.
Contact:
Gabby Guerra, Assistant Director
📧 gabby@alexitoiowa.org
🌐www.alexitoiowa.org -
The American Home Finding Child Care Center in Ottumwa provides nurturing, high-quality early education and care for up to 40 children ages six weeks to 12 years old.
Prioritizing children from families with limited incomes or those involved with DHS, the center offers affordable, trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate care that supports children's cognitive, social, and emotional growth.
This Community Impact Grant supports staffing needs to maintain required child-to-staff ratios, allowing teachers to build stronger relationships and provide individualized attention.
With 75% of families eligible for child care assistance and 70% of children meeting at least one “at-risk” factor, this center fills a critical gap in Wapello County’s limited child care landscape.
Community Impact:
👶 Serves up to 40 children annually, with an emphasis on vulnerable and at-risk youth
👩👧 Maintains low teacher-to-child ratios and trauma-informed care environments
📈 Provides consistent early learning and social-emotional support to improve kindergarten readiness
💼 Helps working parents maintain employment by ensuring reliable, affordable care
🏫 Partners with local schools, AEA, and other community agencies
This project aligns with United Way’s Education Impact Goal by ensuring children enter school ready to learn and families are supported in their early childhood journeys.
Contact:
Tracey Boxx, Executive Director
📧 tracey@ahfa.org
📞 (641) 682-8784 x102
🌐 www.ahfa.org -
The Cardinal Reading Corps at Cardinal Elementary delivers targeted, research-based literacy interventions to K–3 students at Cardinal Elementary who are just below proficiency in reading.
Through a statewide partnership with Iowa Reading Corps, trained AmeriCorps tutors work one-on-one with students to improve phonics, fluency, and overall reading confidence.
Supported by weekly data tracking and fidelity coaching, this program ensures every student gets the individualized support they need to catch up—and stay on track.
In 2025-26, Cardinal aims to serve 17–34 students, with a goal of at least 60% reaching grade-level proficiency by year’s end.
Community Impact:
📚 Helps K–3 students improve fluency and meet reading benchmarks
📈 80% of kindergarten students in the program became proficient from fall to winter
🧠 Builds confidence and love for reading in struggling readers
👩🏫 Led by a certified instructional coach with 14+ years of experience
🤝 Weekly progress monitoring and support from internal and external literacy coaches
The Cardinal Reading Corps supports United Way’s Education Impact Goal by helping more children read at grade level by the end of third grade—one of the strongest predictors of long-term academic success and graduation.
Contact:
Stefany Snyder Buckley, Instructional Coach
📧 stefany.snyder@cardinalcomet.com
📞 (641) 652-3591
🌐 www.cardinalcomet.com -
The Discovery Lane Child Care Center, operated by the Ottumwa Family YMCA, provides high-quality, affordable early childhood care and education for up to 168 children in Wapello County.
Open year-round from 6:00 AM to 5:30 PM, the center serves children ages 4 weeks to 6 years, including many from low-income and working families, ALICE households, and those who qualify for state child care assistance.
Rooted in the Creative Curriculum and led by highly trained, certified staff, Discovery Lane fosters school readiness, developmental growth, and family engagement.
Children are assessed twice yearly, and the program boasts a 95% success rate in achieving age-appropriate physical and cognitive milestones.
Community Impact:
📚 95% of children meet developmental milestones in literacy, math, and physical growth
🧸 550 total served; 140 infants and toddlers
💼 Supports working families—especially those in child care deserts and ALICE households
👩👧 83+ parents involved in learning events; 55% participate in three or more activities
🤝 Collaborates with foster grandparents, I-Smile, Orchard Place, American Home Finding, and Fareway
United Way funding helps sustain the program’s staffing needs—ensuring a safe, nurturing environment and strong student-to-teacher ratios. This project supports United Way’s Education Impact Goal by increasing school readiness, reducing achievement gaps, and building long-term success for Wapello County’s youngest learners.
Contact:
Garrett Ross, CEO
📧 garrett@ottumwaymca.com
📞 (641) 684-6571
🌐 www.ottumwaymca.com -
River Hills is enhancing two school-based mental health therapy rooms at Ottumwa High School to better serve students facing emotional, behavioral, and academic challenges.
With support from United Way, the rooms will be furnished with comfortable, trauma-informed furniture and therapeutic tools to create safe, welcoming spaces where students can focus on healing, growth, and goal-setting.
This project builds on a successful 3-year partnership between River Hills and the Ottumwa Community School District, which has helped students improve attendance, classroom behavior, and graduation rates through on-site therapy services.
Community Impact:
🧠 Supports up to 100 students annually with in-school mental health services
🎯 Aims to increase student engagement in therapy by 10% in 2025–26
🛋️ Creates professional, calming therapy spaces as part of the school’s historic renovation
🎓 Contributes to better attendance and high school graduation outcomes
This project directly supports United Way of Wapello County’s Education and Health impact goals, ensuring students are socially and emotionally healthy—and ready to succeed in school and life.
Contact:
Kacie Wood, Director of Behavioral Health Services
📧 kwood@riverhillshealth.org
📞 (641) 683-5773
🌐 www.riverhillshealth.org -
Sieda’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide high-quality early childhood education and care for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers—supporting the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development of young children in low-income families.
Their Ottumwa-based program includes 7 classrooms and serves over 350 children and their caregivers.
With the recent closure of other local childcare providers, Sieda expanded its services to help meet the urgent need for early childhood education and affordable childcare in Wapello County.
Their programs also provide meals, parent education, and developmental support to help children thrive—and help parents access work and education opportunities that lead to financial stability.
📈 Last year, 80% of children reached age-appropriate cognitive milestones, and 75% reached physical development milestones. Over 35% of parents participated in three or more family involvement opportunities.
🏆 Sieda’s child development programs are among the most highly regulated in the nation, meeting over 1,500 performance standards and rigorous quality reviews.
Contact:
Liz Fairchild, Director
📧 lfairchild@sieda.org 📞641-329-4332
🌐 www.sieda.org
Healthy Community
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The Teen Health Center (THC) at Ottumwa High School provides barrier-free, school-based healthcare to adolescents ages 11–21 across Wapello County.
Operated by American Home Finding Association since 1991, the center offers medical, mental health, and nutritional services with a focus on health equity and early intervention.
With over 4,200 visits in the past year and more than 900 students served, the center plays a vital role in improving teen wellness, attendance, and academic success.
Students can access care during the school day—no transportation or insurance required.
THC staff work closely with school personnel, families, and interpreters to ensure care is culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and accessible to all, especially youth from low-income and underinsured households.
Community Impact:
💉 4,266 medical and mental health visits in the past year
📈 Supports improved attendance and reduced absenteeism
🧠 Increases access to mental health and nutrition services for at-risk teens
🤝 Collaborates with Ottumwa Schools, the I-Smile program, and other local health initiatives
🌍 Serves a racially and socioeconomically diverse student population
United Way funding ensures continued staffing, patient assistance, and oversight by a licensed physician—maintaining a trusted, long-standing health access point in Wapello County. This project aligns with United Way’s Health Impact Goal by ensuring more youth have equitable access to care, empowering them to thrive in and out of the classroom.
Contact:
Tracey Boxx, Executive Director
📧 tracey@ahfa.org
📞 (641) 682-8784 x102
🌐 www.ahfa.org -
The Market Street Landing Inclusive Play Space (MSLIPS) is a transformative public park project designed to meet the needs of all children—regardless of age, ability, or background. With more than 8,000 square feet of universally designed, sensory-rich equipment and accessible infrastructure, this downtown Ottumwa destination will be the first of its kind in Wapello County.
Led by First Resources Corporation in partnership with the Tenco Foundation, Ottumwa Legacy Foundation, and the City of Ottumwa, the park will feature inclusive play zones, rubberized surfaces, ADA-compliant bathrooms, native landscaping, and easy trail access. United Way funding will help purchase the Smart Play Motion—a centerpiece designed to stimulate early development for children ages 0–5 through 16 interactive, multisensory activities.
Community Impact:
👨👩👧👦 Benefits thousands of children annually, including those with disabilities and from low-income households
🧠 Supports healthy physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development
🌍 Located in one of Ottumwa’s most underserved and high-poverty neighborhoods
🛝 Increases inclusive recreation access and helps reduce health disparities
🤝 Strong local collaboration: Legacy Foundation, City of Ottumwa, Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions Club, and more
This project supports United Way’s Health Impact Goal by providing safe, equitable access to outdoor activity, promoting inclusive community development, and addressing the long-term wellness of children and families.
Contact:
Sadie Waugh, Director of Marketing
📧 swaugh@firstresources.us
📞 (641) 682-8114
🌐 www.firstresources.us -
The Food Bank of Iowa, serving 55 counties in central and southeast Iowa, operates a robust Mobile Pantry Program in Wapello County, including communities like Ottumwa.
Food Bank of Iowa (FBOI) is on a mission to ensure no Iowan goes hungry. Through the Feeding Wapello County initiative, FBOI will distribute over 700,000 pounds of nutritious food—including fresh produce, protein, and dairy—to more than 5,000 food-insecure residents across the county.
Programming is tailored to meet the needs of children, veterans, seniors, and rural households through school pantries, mobile food distributions, senior food boxes, and food rescue from local retailers.
Why It Matters:
🛒 1 in 10 Wapello County residents faces food insecurity
🍽️ 1 in 4 children lacks consistent access to nutritious food
🚚 Mobile and school-based distributions reduce barriers like transportation and stigma
♻️ Nearly 100,000 pounds of food rescued from local retailers like Walmart, Hy-Vee, Aldi, and Fareway
🎒 School pantries distributed nearly 119,000 meals to families in 2025 alone
🧓 Senior food boxes delivered to over 230 households annually
🎖️ Monthly pantry distribution specifically for Wapello County veterans and their families
With help from over 9,000 volunteers and 700+ statewide partner agencies, FBOI continues to fight hunger with compassion, efficiency, and innovation.
This project directly advances United Way’s Health and Financial Stability goals by reducing hunger-related stress and enabling families to allocate scarce funds toward other critical needs like housing and medical care.
Contact:
Bergetta Beardsley
📧 bbeardsley@foodbankiowa.org
📞 (515) 867-2892
🌐 foodbankiowa.org -
The annual CASA Conference brings together Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers, community professionals, youth, and allies to champion the well-being of vulnerable children. Hosted in Ottumwa, the 2026 conference will feature speakers with lived experience in foster care, peer-learning breakout sessions, and interactive training that uplifts both youth voice and adult advocacy.
United Way funding supports expanded recruitment, retention, and continuing education for Wapello County CASA volunteers—citizen advocates appointed to represent children in the child welfare system. These volunteers provide trauma-informed advocacy that contributes to safety, permanency, and healing for children who have experienced abuse or neglect.
Community Impact:
👩⚖️ 98 children in out-of-home placements in Wapello County (Feb 2025); 39% of CINA cases currently have a CASA
🧡 90% of child welfare cases in the county involve substance use; CASA ensures holistic family support
📈 Goal to increase CASA volunteers by 24% and boost retention by 15%
👥 Public conference encourages broader community awareness and engagement with the CASA/FCRB mission
🗣️ Youth share lived experiences, encouraging empathy and reducing systemic barriers
This initiative directly aligns with United Way’s Health Impact Goal by reducing risky behaviors and improving access to services for at-risk youth. CASA advocacy helps children and families connect with health, education, and mental health resources—fostering long-term resilience and stronger communities.
Contact:
Meghan Malloy, Executive Director
📧 mmalloy@casaandicfcrb.org
📞 (515) 321-5825
🌐 www.casaandicfcrb.org
Income & Financial Stability
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The Ecumenical Lord’s Cupboard s a nonprofit food pantry providing essential nourishment to individuals and families facing food insecurity in Wapello County.
With a welcoming and accessible location in downtown Ottumwa, the pantry served over 10,000 people in 2024—a 125% increase from just two years prior. Their mission is simple but vital: feed the hungry—no questions asked, no one turned away.
This grant supports rent costs, allowing the Lord’s Cupboard to focus its resources on what matters most: food.
With support from the Food Bank of Iowa, local businesses, churches, and schools, the pantry distributes enough for at least a 3-day supply per household member each month, following new statewide guidelines.
Community Impact:
🧺 Served 10,291 people in 2024—and already over 2,500 in the first three months of 2025
🛒 Hosts 5+ food drives a year with local grocery stores, churches, and schools
💛 Offers barrier-free access to food with compassion and dignity
🏘️ Strengthens visibility and accessibility with a downtown location
Contact:
Virginia Vander Linden, Director
📧 edva5548@gmail.com
📞 (641) 684-8809
📍 101B N Court Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501 -
Iowa Legal Aid’s Ottumwa office provides free legal assistance to low-income Wapello County residents facing eviction, foreclosure, utility shut-offs, wage garnishment, and benefit denials.
For families living on the financial edge, civil legal issues can make or break their path to stability. Iowa Legal Aid provides free legal services to low-income Wapello County residents, helping them address critical issues such as eviction, garnishment, public benefits, domestic abuse, and consumer debt.
With no right to a court-appointed attorney for civil cases, Iowa Legal Aid is often the only line of defense for vulnerable households facing housing loss, hunger, or abuse.
United Way funding supports direct legal assistance that helps people stay housed, stabilize their finances, access public benefits, and gain safety from domestic violence. Last year, Iowa Legal Aid served over 230 clients across 270 cases in Wapello County, positively impacting 570 individuals—including 254 children.
Community Impact:
🏠 80 households will receive legal services for housing issues like eviction and unsafe living conditions—with a projected 95% positive outcome rate
💸 40 households will receive legal assistance to restructure debt, prevent garnishment, or access unemployment and other benefits
👩👧👦 2/3 of clients are women; 55% are heads of household
📉 Each dollar invested yields $4.25 in community economic benefit, including avoided housing costs and gained child support
🤝 Referrals and collaboration with agencies like Crisis Intervention Services, Milestones Area Agency on Aging, and Family Management Financial Solutions
This project directly supports United Way’s Financial Stability impact goal by helping residents retain housing, stabilize income, and reduce financial strain—laying the groundwork for long-term well-being and opportunity.
Contact:
Edward Conrad, Assistant Managing Attorney
📧 econrad@iowalaw.org
📞 (641) 683-3166
📍 112 E 3rd Street, Ottumwa, IA
🌐 www.iowalegalaid.org -
For survivors of domestic violence, safe housing is not just a need—it’s a lifeline.
The Family Crisis Center provides personalized advocacy and support to help individuals and families in Wapello County escape abusive environments and access long-term housing, financial independence, and stability.
Survivors often flee with no financial resources, unstable rental histories, and credit ruined by their abuser. Through this program, the Housing Coordinator delivers trauma-informed support to help clients:
Secure safe, affordable housing
Navigate housing applications and connect with local landlords
Receive financial literacy education and budgeting support
Access employment resources, resume help, and benefit applications
Rebuild their lives with dignity and independence
Community Impact:
📊 100 survivors will receive individualized housing advocacy this year
💼 223 clients will increase knowledge in financial literacy, employment, or cost-saving tools
🏠 186 individuals will receive direct housing support
💡 85% of clients will maintain or obtain stable housing
The program’s wraparound support directly advances United Way’s Financial Stability and Health goals by reducing homelessness, promoting safety, and improving mental and physical well-being for vulnerable families.
Contact:
Sherri Love-May, Housing Coordinator
📧 sherril@ottumwacrisiscenter.org
📞 (641) 683-1750
📍 PO Box 446, Ottumwa, IA 52501 -
Rippling Waters’ Good Neighbor Guide is a multilingual resource designed to empower homeowners with clear, culturally sensitive information on local property maintenance expectations.
By providing this guide in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and French, Rippling Waters addresses the needs of Ottumwa’s growing immigrant and multilingual population, helping prevent nuisance violations, avoid fines, and promote safe, healthy living environments.
The guide is already used by the City of Ottumwa with first-time nuisance violators and will now be distributed more broadly with the help of local lenders, realtors, employers, and community partners like United Way’s Resilient Neighbors program and Ottumwa Habitat for Humanity.
Community Impact:
📚 Distributed in print and digital formats to 4,000 residents
🌍 Reaches diverse populations and first-time homeowners
🏡 Helps maintain property values and reduce city code violations
💰 Prevents fines, contributing to financial stability
💬 Increases understanding of city ordinances and pride in homeownership
Contact:
Holly Berg, Executive Director
📧 hberg@ripplingwaters.org
📞 (641) 954-0461
🌐 www.ripplingwaters.org -
Central Iowa Shelter & Services’ (CISS) Empowerment Command Center (ECC) in Ottumwa is a first-of-its-kind service hub in Wapello County, designed by Central Iowa Shelter & Services (CISS) to fast-track residents toward stability and self-sufficiency.
Rooted in three principles—preventing homelessness, empowering action, and encouraging participation—the ECC offers a physical space where clients can access coordinated services for housing, employment, food security, health, finances, and more.
This collaborative model leverages local partnerships and CISS’s innovative Bindl Companion App, a virtual case management tool that helps individuals—including youth and rural residents—overcome barriers like transportation, stigma, and service fragmentation.
With input from local stakeholders and a foundation in the 2022 Ottumwa Homeless Impact Study, the ECC is a community-driven solution tailored to meet local needs.
Community Impact:
💼 Access to employment training, housing navigation, and supportive services
📱 Use of Bindl App to connect clients with goals, resources, and case managers
🧠 Collaborative "By Name" lists to track progress and improve outcomes
🌐 Strong partnerships with 20+ local agencies and schools
This project supports United Way’s Income Impact Goal by eliminating barriers to economic stability, while also contributing to Health and Education outcomes for families and youth experiencing housing insecurity.
Contact:
Sam Carrell, VP of Strategy & Rural Development
📧 scarrell@centraliowashelter.org
📞 (515) 240-7993
🌐 empowermentcommandcenter.org/the-framework