Andrea Iverson, Student Accountability Advocate

Andrea Iverson, Student Accountability Advocate
Direct: (507) 644-8207

My name is Andrea Iverson and I am the Student Accountability Advocate for Redwood Area Schools. My role in the district is to assist students and families to improve attendance and avoid having chronic attendance issues. I can meet with students and families at school, at home or in the community, and connect them with resources they may need to assist in improving their attendance.

Why attendance matters?

Attendance is important for all students, even in elementary school. Students who miss too many days of school in Kindergarten and 1st grade are shown to struggle with academics later in their education. It most significantly impacts their ability to read by the end of 3rd grade. If students have frequent absences in 6th grade, this has shown to be a leading indicator that a student will later drop out of high school. In every grade, children suffer academically if they are chronically absent, which is defined as missing 15 or more days in a school year. This can add up quickly, even by only missing a few days per month. Sporadic absences, not just those in a row, do matter. Whether absences are excused or unexcused, it still impacts a student in the same way because they are missing instruction from their teachers and learning opportunities.

Resources

Parenting

Choices Pregnancy Center
Address: 231 East 2nd Street, Armory Square, Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Office hours: Monday – Thursday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and other times by appointment. They have parenting coaches available. For meeting with a parenting coach and receiving parenting education, you can earn items for babies and young children in their Baby Bucks Boutique.
For more information about their programs, visit their website at: http://www.choicespregnancycenter.com/ or contact them at the e-mails/phone numbers below:
E-mails: gwenn@choicespregnancycenter.com or director@choicespregnancycenter.com
Phone: 507-637-2534 or phone to text: 507-589-4272

Parent Support Outreach Program (PSOP)
This program is available to families who have at least one child who is under the age of 10. This program is very specific to your needs and the support is voluntary. For more information about this program, contact:
Southwest Health and Human Services
Phone: 507-637-4041 or toll free: 888-234-1292 (8:00 am – 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday)
Address: 266 East Bridge Street, Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Website: www.swmhhs.com ;

Parent Circle
This circle is for any parent, caregiver, and/or those working with kids or parents to help support each other raising kids. This takes place on the 2nd floor of the Redwood County Courthouse (250 South Jefferson, Redwood Falls, MN 56283) in the Restorative Justice Office. The circle takes place every other Tuesday at 11:30 am. For more information about circle or for directions, you can call Eric Johnson at 637-1139, e-mail him at Eric_J@co.redwood.mn.us or visit the website: https://redwoodcounty-mn.us/departments/restorative-justice/.

Nurse Family Partnership
This program is available for mothers that are 28 weeks or less into their first pregnancy. For more information, visit their website at:
https://www.nursefamilypartnership.org/first-time-moms or call or text (844) 637-6667. 

Food / Basic Needs

Food Shelf
Address: 231 E. 2nd St., Redwood Falls, MN 56283
(507) 637-5806 or alternate phone: 627-3653

Counties served: Redwood

The Food Pantry Hours:
Tuesday and Thursday 10:00am to 12:00pm
Saturday 8:00am to 10:00 am

Ruby’s Pantry
Distribution location: National Guard Armory, 530 Highway 101, Redwood Falls, MN 56283, the 3rd Tuesday of each month.

There are food shares available and the contents change on each distribution day. For more information about distribution dates and food shares available, you can visit their website: www.rubyspantry.org or their Facebook page: Ruby’s Pantry Redwood Falls, MN. There is a requested donation of $20 per food share.  There are no qualifications for getting a share.

Southwest Health and Human Services
You can apply for financial, medical and food support. They can help to determine what you can qualify for, based on your income. If you stop in or call and ask to speak to an intake worker, they will assist you.
Phone: 507-637-4041 or toll free: 888-234-1292 (8:00 am – 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday)
Address: 266 East Bridge Street, Redwood Falls, MN 56283

Domestic Violence Resources

Women’s Rural Advocacy Programs
http://www.letswrap.com/
Toll Free Crisis Hotline: 800-639-2350

Minnesota Indigenous Women’s Society
Phone: 507-627-4357
E-mail: miws@nutelecom.net

Healing Circle
The Healing Circle is for those who have been victims of domestic violence and/or sexual abuse. There are advocates that participate in these circles. This takes place on the 2nd floor of the Redwood County Courthouse (250 South Jefferson, Redwood Falls, MN 56283) at the Restorative Justice Office. The circle takes place every other Tuesday at 3 pm. For more information about circle or for directions, you can call Eric Johnson at 637-1139, e-mail him at Eric_J@co.redwood.mn.us or visit the website: https://redwoodcounty-mn.us/departments/restorative-justice/.

Chemical Dependency

Southwest Health and Human Services
Phone: 507-637-4041 or toll free: 888-234-1292 (8:00 am – 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday)
Address: 266 East Bridge Street, Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Website: www.swmhhs.com

If you call and ask to speak to an intake worker, they can assist you.

Lower Sioux Social Services
Phone: 507-697-8675 (8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday)
Website: http://lowersiouxhhs.org/chemical-dependency/

Project Turnabout
Phone: 1-800-862-1453 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year)

Circle of Hope
This circle is for those in recovery or those that are supporting someone in recovery. This takes place on the 2nd floor of the Redwood County Courthouse (250 South Jefferson, Redwood Falls, MN 56283) in the Restorative Justice Office. The circle takes place every other Thursday at 12:30 pm. For more information about circle or for directions, you can call Eric Johnson at 637-1139, e-mail him at Eric_J@co.redwood.mn.us or visit the website: https://redwoodcounty-mn.us/departments/restorative-justice/.

AA/NA meetings
For a current/updated list of AA/NA meetings, you can call Southwest Health and Human Services at the contact information listed above.

Transportation

United Community Action
Phone for the Dispatch Center: 507-537-7628
Link to website with a route schedule, cost, and hours for Redwood Falls: https://unitedcapmn.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/CT-GreenRoute_091818.pdf

Victims of Crime

New Horizons Crisis Center
Their mission is to advocate for, support, and empower victims of crime. 
Address: 231 E. 2nd Street, Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Phone: 507-637-5570
Website: https://www.newhorizonscrisiscenter.org/