Mid Iowa Community Action (MICA)
November 2013
Liaisons: Lisa McCoy, David Morris and David Parkinson
Need for Program:
MICA provides services through the Story County Family Development Center such as Family
Development and Self-Sufficiency and ASSET Family Development along with Low-Income
Home Energy Assistance, Weatherization. Food Pantry, Head Start and through their Story
County Health Services Center they offer services that include the Dental Clinic, Maternal and
Child Health and WIC. The target population is low income families and that population is
increasing. ASSET funds are primarily used for dental clinic, food pantry and family
development services.
Program Strengths:
MICA is a stable and well organized agency that is able to seek funding opportunities to meet
uncertain economic challenges. Although MICA provides services primarily for low-income
families they serve all ages. The move to the new facility within the last couple of years has
improved efficiencies and provided opportunities to separate many of the programs to provide
privacy and more space for programs. They rely on volunteers to run the food pantry and assist
with front desk. They have recently hired a full time dentist who works 40 hours per week.
Weakness and Financial Outlook:
The economic challenges to fund these programs have been compounded with an increase in
need over the past few years. The Dental Clinic costs approx. $4,000 per day to manage with
only $2,500 currently budgeted. It is feared they might have to reduce other programs to fund
the Dental Clinic. There has been a decrease in funding at the Federal and State level which
increases stress on staff. The major cutback has been in the weatherization and energy
assistance programs.
Internal Management Practices:
Within the last year the Family Development Director was new to MICA although she brings 20
plus years of community service skills to this position. They appear to have a very dedicated
staff who care deeply about the clients they serve.
General Assessment:
MICA is a valuable agency assisting thousands of low-income individuals and families through
the many various programs. Dental services remain a top priority given that no other agency
provides this much needed service. The goal of the staff is to encourage clients to “plan and
think for themselves”.
November 2013
Liasion Report
AGENCY: Mid-Iowa Community Action Agency LIAISON: David Parkinson (GSB)
NEED FOR PROGRAM:
The Mid-Iowa Community Action Agency (MICA) in Story County focuses their programs on
Family Development, Asset Development, Child Development, Health, Youth Development, and
the Read by 3rd program. These programs are aimed to serve children and families that have
been affected by the conditions of poverty, serving anyone who is at or below 200% of the
poverty line. MICA is a unique program that is able to accept clients that are uninsured, enrolled
in Hawk-I, receiving veterans’ benefits, and on Medicaid. MICA is projecting to see a slight
increase of clients from Ames, Story County, and ISU.
PROGRAM STRENGTHS:
MICA uses efficient fiscal practices at the Dental Clinic that keeps patient costs low, serving
over 2,000 patients. They recently updated the computer operating systems, creating a more
efficient work enviroment and data collection practices. Besides fiscal practices, the sheer
number of patients served attests to the strength of the program, whereas if the program did not
exist these patients would have little if any other option for their oral healthcare. The clinic also
has a fulltime Dentist/Director as well as a dental hygienist and secretary.
PROGRAM WEAKNESSES:
When running any kind of clinic, a common issue may be a client “no-show”. MICA does have a
policy that after too many “no-shows” that the patient will be turned away. In order to prevent
these events from happening, the patients are informed on the types of transportation available to
them and are able to make appointments in advanced. This rate is very low but each occurrence
harms the clinic. Another issue that MICA is looking to change is moving from film to the
digitalization of oral x-rays and the improvement of exam lights.
FINANCIAL OUTLOOK:
For FY 14/15, MICA will have $38,481 less in State and Federal resources for the Dental Clinic.
It would be detrimental to the program to not fill that gap but MICA is not looking to ASSET to
completely fill it, as MICA is very successful at fundraising, rationalization expenses, and
seeking additional support elsewhere. Medicaid pays 66% of the costs and ASSET has been
supporting the other 33%. It is yet to be seen how the Affordable Care Act will affect the
payment process.
GENERAL ASSESSMENT:
MICA is a unique program that is essential to the residents of Story County. The Dental Clinic
had just underwent a transition year and has being successful since. The dental service offered is
a top priority because there is no other current agency that provides this service.