Disparity is a noun that means, "a great difference". It  may be used when citing inequities or noticeable differences and often refers to differences that are unfair. 

It's not enough to simply identify disparities. 

Making it standard practice to contextualize disparities is critical to addressing the root causes of inequity. 

Here are some important statistics:

• 9% of Iowa is non-white (Iowa State Data Center).
• 51% of families enrolled in the FaDSS program in FY20 are non-white (Iowa FaDSS).
• In 2019, the Iowa Civil Rights Commission investigated and closed 458 cases of discrimination on the basis of race in Iowa, more than any other protected class (2019 Iowa Civil Rights Commission Report).
• 11.7% of Iowans live in poverty, 90% of the people living in poverty in Iowa are non-white (State Data Center).

The FaDSS Equity Committee is planning several activities for the upcoming program year. If you have been asking yourself how you can be part of the change demanded right now, we hope you will find the activities useful. If you have not been asking yourself that question, we hope the activities will help you start asking that and other questions of yourself and your peers. 

In each newsletter, you’ll see a feature called GEM (Going the Extra Mile) where we will highlight a FaDSS worker who has gone above and beyond. Please help us celebrate your work by submitting stories to Page.Eastin@iowa.gov.

Nikki Harter has been with the MICA FaDSS program for 5 years, and recently became the Lead specialist taking on quality assurance and mentoring responsibilities.  "From the first day I interviewed her I knew she was someone I needed on our team. Her radiant smile, calm personality and deep compassion for others were all very evident in the first impression," said FaDSS Coordinator Mindy Clayton. 

Nikki goes the extra mile while serving her families, working with her peers and being a mom to 3 adorable kids. Examples of how Nikki goes the extra mile include:

• Lending a hand to her office partner and helping her organize belongings.
• Helping up front at the office with food boxes.
• Going to mental health appointments with her families when they are scared to go  by themselves.
• Since having to do virtual visits she has been very intentional about providing activities to children by either dropping off stuff on the front porch and then going over it at the next virtual visit or reading to them through Zoom.
• She volunteers to help coordinate through her church the holiday meals for our families that use the food pantry.
• She helps with the “gift store” for families to buy gifts for their family at very reduced prices during December.
• She is excellent at letting every family of hers know about local events she does her research and passes the news on.
• Since becoming a lead specialist she has been working with staff on accuracy of their data and using a very strength based approach – all specialists have commented they enjoy her guidance and coaching style.
• She is a very strong advocate for her families and will be persistent with other services so the family understands what is expected of them or what they need to do next to use that service.

The FaDSS program is grateful to have a GEM like Nikki Harter!

Community Action of Eastern Iowa, headquartered in Davenport provides services to FaDSS families in Jackson, Scott, Muscatine, Cedar and Clinton counties. The agency is led by Executive Director Roger Pavey who has been with the agency for 18 years.

When asked what he is most proud of in regard to his work, Director Pavey stated, "During a global pandemic, economic collapse, and civil rights protests that became violent, our team has been amazing. We have delivered thousands of boxes of food to the doorsteps of the sick and hungry. To meet the demand of our community we literally bought a semi load of diapers directly from the manufacturer. Our team answers customer needs every day of the week (including weekends and holidays) and we are completing record numbers of service contacts (home visits, applications, deliveries) even though no customer has crossed the threshold of our offices since March 16th. No one on our team has been laid-off or lost their job. We have all learned how to bundle services and get out of our silos".

Community Action of Eastern Iowa's FaDSS program is lead by Coordinator Lisa Raya who is new to the role and doing a tremendous job of leading a team of skilled specialists.  Lisa commented, “I am proud to be a part of such an innovative FaDSS team and agency that works tirelessly to eliminate barriers for families. During the COVID-19 pandemic, my team adapted quickly to providing services remotely and handled our virtual on-site review with such positivity. They have continuously provided weekly support to families who are faced with even more challenges during this difficult time. I look forward to FY21 and excited to see my team excel in their ability to provide support to Iowa families as they progress towards self-sufficiency".

Director Pavey shared that, "This is a time for bold and calculated action. The needs are tremendous, and we are well-positioned to meet them in new ways. Across Iowa, FaDSS services and other agency services are being delivered in new ways that are customer-centered. I'm excited that our customer service has improved so much, both from necessity and by giving our staff the license to use their creativity. We have big plans for how this will continue to evolve". 

Habilitation Services is a program to provide Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) for Iowans with the functional impairments typically associated with chronic mental illnesses. Habilitation Services are designed to assist participants in acquiring, retaining and improving the self-help, socialization and adaptive skills necessary to reside successfully in home and community-based settings. Eligibility for Habilitation Services is based on need as well as an assessment of functional limitation. 

Services available through the program include:

• Case Management
  Provides service coordination and monitoring. Available as a Habilitation service when the individual does not otherwise qualify for targeted case management (Iowa Plan or IME funded).
   
• Home-Based Habilitation
  Services provided in the person's home and community. Typical examples would be assistance with medication management, budgeting, grocery shopping, personal hygiene skills, etc.
   
• Day Habilitation
  Services that are usually provided in a day program setting outside the home. Focuses on areas such as social skills, communication skills, behavior management, etc.
   
• Prevocational Services
  Can be provided in a variety of settings, and focus on developing generalized skills that prepare a person for employment. Typical examples include attendance, safety skills, following directions, and staying on task.
   
• Supported Employment
  Assists in obtaining and keeping a job in the community. Assists in placing the individual in a job in a regular work setting with persons without disabilities at minimum wage or higher, and provides support to maintain the job. Typical examples would include: skills assessments, consultation with the employer, job coaching, and behavior management.

For more information, visit the DHS website.