Southwest Iowa Families is looking to build a new facility. | Pixabay
Southwest Iowa Families is looking to build a new facility. | Pixabay
Southwest Iowa Families, an organization that provides counseling and behavioral services for some of the area's most vulnerable children, has its sights set on a new facility.
The Clarinda-based organization recently unveiled its plans to build a larger facility downtown.
"It's a 9,000-square-foot building," Sandy Geer, administrative director, told KMA. "It will add additional office space for our therapists and also our 0-5 programs. We need a bigger classroom for those programs. A multipurpose room would be nice to have to utilize for classrooms when we have an overflow and other different types of therapy as well."
Caseloads at the organization have grown between 30 and 40% over the last three years, according to Clinical Director Bernie Waggoner. Waggoner said they are hopeful to have a new building by the end of 2021.
Geer reports that 24% of Page County children live in poverty. Four counties in southwest Iowa, Adams, Page, Montgomery and Union counties, are also in the top 5% of children being abused.
"We have the 0-5 child abuse prevention programs, which are the NEST and the Positive Families programs," Wagoner said. "The other thing that can get forgotten is that we are directly involved in providing supports to individual families who may be in need. In fact, last year when we counted up how much that we've done, there were over 650 individuals and families that were served by programs that we do."
To donate to Southwest Iowa Families, call (712) 542-3501 or visit their website.
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