Our Mission 

To improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth by providing services and leadership in partnership with families, schools and communities. 

Our Goals

• Increase learning growth for students
• Decrease the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success

2021 All-Staff Meeting Follow-up: Here’s Your Feedback on the Meeting and Let Us Know If You’d Like Your Dream Sheet

Survey 

In the charts below and the open-ended responses, you’ll find the results of the 2021 All-Staff Meeting survey. Thank you to the 244 staff who responded to the survey. We take your responses into consideration as we plan for future meetings. Feedback this year is guiding us to look at possible August dates for 2022. 

Here's What You Said About the 2020 All-Staff Meeting: 

Click on the graph to view a larger image.

Dream Sheets 

Many Dream Sheets were left at the end of the All-Staff Meeting. If you did not take your dream sheet at the conclusion of the All-Staff Meeting and are interested in receiving a copy of your dream sheet, email comms@heartlandaea.org. We can look up your number and will scan your sheet and email it to you.

You’ve Got Until Friday to Support Our 2021 United Way Campaign!

Central Iowa LIVES UNITED year-round, but United Way is extra special during the fall when organizations like ours across the community-run campaigns to raise money for the cause. 


We are counting on you to once again pledge your support to United Way, so they can in turn support communities through Essential Needs, Early Childhood Success, Education Success, Economic Opportunity and Health & Well-Being – the 5 Elements of a Thriving Community! 

Heartland AEA and United Way are so grateful to you for the generosity you’ve shown in the past toward this fight. You are truly an impact-maker for so many central Iowans in need! As a donor or volunteer, or as someone who wants to learn more about United Way’s work, you are joining the effort to ensure that everyone in Central Iowa gets a chance at a quality life. 


 

Campaign Details 

• You received an email from United Way of Central Iowa on Sept. 28 2021, with a link to donate to United Way online and a reminder email today if you haven't yet donated.
• Pledges of at least $50 can be designated toward a county United Way or organization of your choosing. 
• Although the pledge site may indicate that cash or check pledges are options, we are only accepting online pledges for this campaign. 
• Those who pledge will be entered into a drawing! 

If you have any questions, contact Courtney Croatt, Communications Specialist, or Whitney Wolf, Human Resources Generalist.

We Need You! Will You Consider Being a Member of the Polk & Jasper County School Reunification Response Teams?

What is Emergency Response and Reunification? 

An essential component of school emergency response is the reunification of students with their parents or primary caregiver after an emergency has taken place. A well-organized and timely reunification process is critical to reducing emergency-based trauma in children and is often the only mental health crisis intervention needed following an emergency. The sooner children are reunited with caregivers, the less likely they are to exhibit traumatic stress. 

How are Schools Managing Their Reunification Plans? 

As schools across Iowa develop and exercise reunification plans, they have discovered that most lack the resources to effectively and efficiently complete the associated tasks. This is especially true in instances involving significant trauma such as active shooter, weather, chemical and other emergencies. In these types of events, research indicates that children are best left under the supervision of their teacher, who they trust and seek for safety. This leaves very limited school and district staff available for carrying out the reunification plan. This also requires school personnel directly impacted by the emergency to carry out complex reunification tasks that they may not be able to emotionally manage. 

How Can Heartland AEA Help? 

Heartland AEA is in a unique position to assist schools in Jasper County (Baxter, Colfax-Mingo, Lynnville-Sully, Newton and PCM) and schools in Polk County (Bondurant-Farrar, Des Moines, Johnston, North Polk, Saydel, Southeast Polk, Urbandale, West Des Moines) by establishing a response team to reunify children with caregivers in an emergency. Should an emergency requiring reunification of children occur, Heartland AEA staff would deploy to the identified reunification site and assure the school that families are quickly and accurately reunified. 

How Can You Help? 

Volunteer! All Agency staff in any role are invited to volunteer. A variety of individual skills sets are needed to fill the roles and responsibilities associated with the reunification team: 

• Logistics staff is needed to see that the necessary equipment, signage and supplies are delivered and set up at a reunification site should the team be requested for deployment.
• Administrative staff must carry out accurate record collection and verification of identification to assure students are safely reunified with the proper caregiver. 
• Mental health services and support staff are needed to assure that both children and adults receive assistance in a supportive and empathetic environment while they await reunification. 
• Security staff is needed to assist law enforcement by identifying potential areas of concern and assuring the safety of everyone seeking reunification services. 

Will You Serve on a Reunification Response Team? 

At this time, regional reunification response plans are being organized in the counties of Jasper and Polk. If you have the desire to volunteer on a reunification team, complete this Reunification Response Volunteer Recruitment Form by Nov. 19. NOTE: Even if you previously indicated your interest in serving on a response team, you need to sign up again. This call for volunteers will be conducted on an annual basis. 

What are the Next Steps? 

The Agency’s Reunification Response Organizing Team will conduct reunification workshops to learn and practice the Reunification Response process. Volunteers will be expected to attend one workshop session. 

Workshop Dates 

Nov. 30, 2021 from 12:00 - 3:30 p.m. 

Jan. 4, 2022 from 8:30 a.m. - Noon 

Registration

Select ONE Workshop to Attend 

HL - Emergency Response and Reunification Team Training, (Course # 202625) 

Remember, 121 Benefits is Now Benefit Resources (BRI)!

• 
  121 Benefits was bought by Benefit Resources (BRI) and all account-based plans and administrative services have now transitioned to BRI’s platform. 
• Employees with an HRA, flex medical account or dependent care account must now use BRI. 
• Learn more: BRI Account Resources 

How Do I Login to BRIWEB and Create an Account? 

Participants accessing the site for the first time will be required to register a Custom Login ID. On the BRIWEB Login page, select Employee from the Yellow "Log-In" button and then select the blue “Register an Account” link. Follow the instructions provided. 

The following are required during registration: 

Company Code: heartland 

Member ID: Employee PEID# (Use FULL number, including E and zeros, your PEID # is located on your Pay Stub.) 

Personal Info: First name, last name, zip code 

Access to email or phone number on file with Benefit Resources 

Beniversal Cards 

If you have a flex medical account, you will now be able to use your Beniversal Card. To activate your Beniversal Card, follow the instructions that were mailed to you along with your card. If you didn't receive a card, please contact BRI directly at the number provider below. (You do NOT get this card if you have an HRA.) 

BRIMOBILE App 

The BRIMOBILE app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play. 

Direct Deposit Information 

If your Direct Deposit banking information is already filled in then you don't need to re-enter, unless it is empty, incorrect or needs updated. 

Questions 

To address any further questions you may have, please go to the Participant Migration FAQ, for resources including FAQs, educational videos and information about managing your accounts. If you have additional questions or need additional assistance, reach out to Participant Services at the following: 

Email: participantservices@benefitresource.com 

Phone: (800) 473 – 9595 (Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM CT) 

If you have any problems or questions, you can also contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist.

Please Disclose Any Conflicts of Interest to HR (Being Related to an Agency Employee, Board Member or Anyone Within Your District Assignment)

As part of Heartland AEA’s board policy, all Heartland AEA staff are asked to certify that they are not currently related to any Heartland AEA employee or board member or anyone within their district assignment. If there is no such relationship, there is nothing you need to do. If such a relationship exists, please disclose the relationship to Human Resources using this form. Only relationships within your immediate family (spouse/partner, child, sibling, step-child, in-law) need to be disclosed.

 If you have any questions, contact Nia Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources.

Heartland AEA Online Store for Wellness Apparel Open to All Staff!

Exciting news! The Heartland AEA online store where staff can redeem their Wellness incentive for agency logo apparel is open for ALL employees THROUGH OCT. 31! 

If you’ve earned your $40 coupon towards logo apparel, you will receive a separate email with specific ordering information once Navigate has notified us. All employees can purchase any items in the store (and shipping) at their own cost during the period when the online store is open monthly through June 2022. (Use Speedee delivery or pick up your purchase at P&M Apparel in Polk City or use UPS for out-of-state shipping.) Some seasonal items may be replaced with new items/colors in the spring. Keep your eye on The Connection for the link and monthly online store order dates! 

P&M Apparel Heartland AEA Online Store 

If you have any questions, contact Britini Jones, Human Resources Assistant.

Reminder: Early Notification Incentive Now Offered to All Staff

Last year, Heartland AEA filled 60+ vacancies in all employee groups. It has been to the Agency’s advantage to enter the recruitment cycle as early as possible. 




 

For 2021-22, the Heartland AEA Board of Directors has approved an Early Notification Incentive for staff who notify Heartland AEA of their intent to resign or retire after the fulfillment of their current contract or employment term (for Classified staff) by Dec. 10, 2021. Details are listed below.



 

Early Notification Incentive Process & Requirements 

• This year all staff, including Certified, Classified and Management staff, may take advantage of the early notification incentive. 
• Certified Union and Management staff who do not plan to return to Heartland AEA for the 2022-23 school year must submit early notification letters of resignation that are effective at the end of the 2021-22 work year. 
• Certified Union and Management staff must fulfill their contractual obligations to be eligible. 
• Classified staff must serve the full number of days as identified in their employment notifications or through June 30, 2022, if no days are specified, in order to be eligible. All early notification letters must be received in the Human Resources Department by 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 10, 2021. 
• Heartland AEA’s Board of Directors acts on early notification letters no later than its regular meeting on Dec. 14, 2021. 
 

Early Notification Incentive 

A $1,500 early notification incentive will be paid on June 30, 2022, to employees fulfilling these requirements. 

If you have any questions about the early notification incentive, contact Nia Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources.

Reminder: New "Service Spotlight" Aims to Strengthen Connections to Community Partners

Striving to continually strengthen our connections and collaboration with our partners and be responsive to the needs of our staff who would like information about community resources, the Agency’s Early Childhood Leadership Team will be offering a series this year they’re calling “Service Spotlight.” 

Each month (November 2021 – May 2022) one of our partners will be in the spotlight and will describe various aspects of their organization and/or services in about 15-20 minutes with time for Q and A. In most cases, partners will join via Zoom. This not only opens up the opportunity for anyone who would like to join, but it also gives us the opportunity to record and archive the presentations. Below is the schedule and Zoom link for the next three months. 

Oct. 26, 2021 

8:30 a.m. 

Heartland AEA Family & Educator Partnership, Kari Paulsen 

Zoom link 

Nov. 22, 2021 

8:30 a.m. 

EMBARC (The Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center), Abigail Sui 

Zoom link 

Dec. 17, 2021 

8:30 a.m. MIECHV (Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program), PJ West & Janet Horras 

Zoom link

This Week’s Mission Monday: Say “Please” and “Thank You” This Week

Mission Monday is the creation of Mark Johnson and Sam Stecher. As teachers, coaches and leaders, they desired a way to consistently create connections and a sense of community in their school buildings. They made it their mission to take the “random” out of Random Acts of Kindness. Each Monday, they provided their students and staff with a “mission” designed to increase positivity, build connections, deepen relationships and contribute to a supportive culture and climate. 

Heartland AEA and our Development Team for Safe, Supportive, Welcoming Environments wants to bring this idea to our settings. We will be building upon the Pick 3 For Me card that we had at our All-Staff Meeting by including a weekly mission each Monday in The Connection. Then use the “Mission Accomplished” form to indicate when you have accomplished a mission, and you’ll be put in a monthly drawing for cool prizes! 

Mission for Week of Oct. 25: Be sure to say “please” and “thank you” this week 

Mission Accomplished Form

Reminder: Join Us for the Next Round of Listening Circles: Achieving a Functional Work-Life Balance

Our Heartland AEA SEBMH group has designed and scheduled another round of Listening Circles. In this round, we will revisit our topic from Round 2 and consider how to create and maintain a functional work-life balance. We will be drawing upon the ideas in this article from Edutopia. We encourage you to read the article prior to participating; however, it is not required. 

As a reminder, the goal of Listening Circles is to create a brave space for staff to be heard, free of judgment, and with no fear of consequences for speaking their truth. It is believed that this practice will be helpful for building and maintaining a healthy community in which ALL staff feels connected and respected. 

Here is what some of our colleagues have said about participating in the Listening Circles: 

• "The listening circle is a place where you can feel connected to others in our Heartland AEA family and share in a reflective, thoughtful, caring way. It was a meaningful experience." 
• "I thought I might be walking into group therapy and wasn't too eager to do that! But Listening Circles aren't like that. They are led by our incredibly bright and caring staff in a structured way so we can hear from our colleagues, learn from each other, gain understanding and build connections. It's time well spent!" 
• "This was a very non-threatening process. We always had the option to pass and that was totally okay." 

We encourage you to participate in an upcoming Listening Circle with your fellow Heartland AEA colleagues! 

How to Participate 

Listening Circles have been scheduled over the next three weeks at various times throughout the day to accommodate as many schedules as possible. Registration for each circle will be capped at eight participants to allow for meaningful sharing from all participants. If you are interested in participating as a group, feel free to have your group members sign up for the same time or contact your SEBMH regional lead to see about setting up a separate time for your group to engage in a circle. Listening Circles with fewer than 3 participants will be canceled and those participants will be encouraged to register for another circle time. Registration for all sections will be open soon! 

Facilitators 

The first and second facilitators for each of the sessions (as they stand today) are listed below. 

Oct. 25 (M) 12:30-1:00 p.m. -- Lauren Vanderhorst & Rebecca Carver 

Oct. 25 (M) 2:00-3:30 p.m. -- Andrea Matheson & Jen Funk 

Oct. 26 (T) 1:00-2:30 p.m. -- Stacey Warren & Rebecca Carver 

Oct. 28 (Th) 1:30-3:00 p.m. --  Aimee Schuppe & Brianna Sayre Geiser 

Oct. 29 (F) 8:30-10:00 a.m. -- Rebecca Carver & Aimee Schuppe 

Nov. 1 (M) 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. -- Jadie Boens & Rebecca Carver 

Nov. 4 (Th) 2:00-3:30 p.m. -- Jean Boger & Andrea Matheson 

Nov. 5 (F) 1:30-3:00 p.m. -- Brenda Gerdes & Jean Boger 

Nov. 8 (M) 2:00-3:30 p.m. -- Lauren Vanderhorst & Aimee Schuppe 

Nov. 9 (T) 9:30-11:00 a.m. -- Stacey Warren & Aimee Schuppe 

Nov. 9 (T) 12:30-2:00 p.m. -- Rebecca Carver & Lauren Vanderhorst 

Nov. 10 (W) 12:00-1:30 p.m. -- Brianna Sayre Geiser & Andrea Matheson 

Nov. 11 (Th) 1:00-2:30 p.m. -- Jean Boger & Rebecca Carver

Registration

Registration for all sections will be open soon! 

Course #: 190735 HL - Heartland AEA Listening Circles 

Important Information as Child Count Day Approaches This Friday, Oct. 29, 2021

Child Count Day, Oct. 29, 2021, is quickly approaching! Please read the reminders below and if any apply to you, complete them as soon as possible. Let's work together to make Child Count 2021 go smoothly! 

• Students moving into the state of Iowa with an active IEP must have an Iowa IEP completed on Iowa IDEA prior to Child Count. If an Iowa IEP meeting will not be held on or before Oct. 29, 2021, follow the Out of State IEP Procedure for 2021-2022 document that is located on the Heartland AEA Special Education Procedures, Processes and Forms site which states the following process will be followed: 
• Beginning Oct. 18, 2021, after verifying with the Primary Contact or Direct Service Provider that no Iowa IEP meeting will be held on or before Oct. 29, 2021, the Data Specialist will start a Move-In type IEP for those students who have moved into Iowa and no meeting will be held on or before Oct. 29, 2021. The Data Specialist will complete: 
• Family Tab 
• Tab A except for the Procedural Safeguards and, if applicable, Rights will Transfer Information (Must be completed by PC, Direct Service Provider or Teacher) 
• Tab F will add one Service box and EC Worksheet when applicable. (Must be completed by PC, Direct Service Provider or Teacher) 
• RSD tab except for the Disability Code (Must be completed by PC, Direct Service Provider or Teacher) 

• All PK to Kindergarten students must have a transition IEP completed prior to Child Count. The Data Specialists will run reports and Primary Contacts and/or Direct Service Providers will be notified if a transition IEP has not been completed. If you are responsible for any Kindergarten students, check to make sure the transition IEP has been completed. This includes: 
• Changing the grade to Kindergarten (Family and A tab) 
• Marking Full-time programming 
• Updating the teacher or service provider 
• Updating the EC Setting Worksheet 
• Verifying the District-Wide Assessment information 
• Completing a final ECO. Remember, an ECO on an Initial cannot be considered the Final ECO - there must be two sets of data for comparison. Also, the Final ECO must show progress as Yes or No. 

• All IFSP and IEP processes/meetings held on or before Oct. 29, 2021, must be completed and submitted as soon as possible; no later than noon on Nov. 1, 2021. Primary Contacts, work with your teachers to ensure that all IEPs are submitted within that timeline. If you are a Direct Service Provider for IEPs and/or IFSPs, complete and submit your IEP/IFSP within that timeline. Initial IEP and IFSP meetings must be held and dated on or prior to October 29, 2021. Eligibility meetings do not count as IEP meetings if meetings are held separately. 

• Students who are no longer receiving special education services on Oct. 29, 2021, MUST have an exit IEP/IFSP completed and submitted by noon on Nov. 1, 2021. If you are a Primary Contact, work with your teachers to make sure students are exited who are no longer receiving special education services. If you are a Direct Service Provider, complete exits for students you are no longer serving that are listed on your roster. 

• Direct Service Providers, as well as teacher rosters, are in the process of being distributed by the Administrative Assistants. If you are responsible to turn in rosters, take some time to review the rosters carefully to make sure all data is correct and all students are accounted for on the roster. 

• For meetings being held after Oct. 29, 2021, IEP and IFSP Plans can be started at any time and remain open. Be sure to enter a date after Oct. 29, 2021, in order to not receive reminder emails regarding opened Child Count IEPs and IFSPs. 

Thank you in advance for your help in making Child Count 2021 a smooth process!

Required Ten Digit Dialing Now in Effect; Check Your Contacts & Speed Dials

Beginning Oct. 24, 2021, mandatory 10-digit local dialing will be required for all Iowa phone users in the 515 and 319 area codes. 

Area codes must transition to 10-digit dialing for all calls, including local calls, to accommodate for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which uses a quick-dial “988” to connect callers. 

When using Zoom Phone for Heartland AEA calls and texts or using the fax capabilities of our copiers to a local number, you must use the entire 10-digit area code and phone number combination in order to complete the call. Please review any local contacts or speed-dials you may have previously set up and add the area code to those where needed. 

If you have any questions, contact zoomphone@heartlandaea.org.

Reminder: Update Your Computer’s Operating System & Antivirus Protection in the Coming Weeks

You received this information in emails on Oct. 19 and 20. This is your reminder about updating your computer’s operating system. 

The Agency is preparing to upgrade all of its Mac computers to Apple’s current operating system, macOS 11 (Big Sur). Having all staff using the same operating system will enhance our security and simplify the process of providing support. After you’ve completed the upgrade to macOS Big Sur, we ask that you install the latest version of Symantec Endpoint Protection from Self Service for improved compatibility with the new operating system. The update will be available under the Utilities category in Self Service. 

You will receive an email with detailed instructions about how to perform the upgrade. This will be a fairly simple process, but it will take some time. For example, if a new computer is being upgraded and the needed “Install macOS Big Sur” installer is already located in your Applications folder, the process could take as little as 20 minutes. If an older model is being upgraded and the needed “Install macOS Big Sur” installer isn’t already in the Applications folder, then it could take 2-3 hours to download the needed installer and perform the update. So you’ll want to plan your time according to what computer you have and whether you already have the “Install macOS Big Sur” installer in the Applications folder. 

Included in the email you’ll receive is a short video we encourage you to watch prior to doing the upgrade so you know what to expect. NOTE: You will need 45 GB of free space in order to perform the upgrade. You will also need to do a Time Machine backup on your external hard drive just prior to performing the upgrade. If you don’t have your Time Machine drive with you, DO NOT attempt to do the upgrade. 

For those of you who upgraded your operating system as part of the pilot group, thank you for your willingness to help us test the process. If you were part of the pilot, there’s no need for you to do any additional upgrades at this time. 

The Internal Technology Department asks that you complete the upgrade to macOS 11 (Big Sur) by Nov. 12, 2021, before the rush of the Thanksgiving holiday. 

If you have any questions, contact Mike Permann on the Internal Technology Team.