Staying healthy sounds easy enough — eat your vegetables, wear your bike helmet, teach your children how to read, and get vaccinated. But what do you do when you can’t reach clinics or services? Or if you simply can’t afford it?
When Brooke Holder stepped into her role as manager of public health at Poweshiek County Public Health three years ago, she wanted to get resources out to Grinnell and the rest of Poweshiek County — and fast.
“Public health is amazing,” shares Holder. “And so we try to make it a presence in the community.” So far, her work has been going according to plan, incorporating new initiatives like harm prevention vending machines, distributing free ATV helmets, and more. The vending machines are full of harm prevention tools, carrying free nasal Narcan, naloxone, and hygiene supplies. Currently, three are located in Grinnell, including next to the Drake Community Library. At the Grinnell Farmers Market, Holder and her staff were the ones who brought the mega brain experience to the park — attracting a number of youth to pick up their free ATV helmets!
Holder’s staff — made up of four registered nurses, a certified nursing aide, and an office manager — cover many more demographics with free resources, as well. This includes babies, mothers, the elderly, and everyone in between.
For moms who deliver at the UnityPoint Grinnell, for example, they can request a visit from a lactation specialist and get connected to local resources. “We even have grants that can cover trips to places like Marshall, Tama, and Benton County,” says Holder. “The specialist can also connect moms with physicians and pediatricians.” Poweshiek County Public Health also offers a postpartum program, to help with baby blues, also known as postpartum depression. Recently, they collaborated with Read to Lead to gift babies with free books every month for a year, plus some extra goodies for baby home safety.
Poweshiek County Public Health also coordinates the Village Closet, which is in partnership with the general community. People can donate anything from diapers to onesies for the fall, and can find the full donation list online.
For our more senior residents, Holder and her staff have prepared a variety of resources, too. “We have a free ‘Unlocking Brain Fitness’ class that is usually $300 a month in Des Moines,” she shared. The class, held at St. Francis Manor, teaches about exercises and habits to keep your brain sharp and prevent Alzheimer’s.
Another member of Holder’s team also provides services for homebound individuals on a sliding scale. She can bathe, meal prep, and do some housekeeping for them.
But if there is something that is missing in the general community, Holder wants to know. “We have a Community Health Needs Assessment Survey that is federally required, and it lets us know what work we need to be doing — whether to focus on access to food, transportation, or something else entirely.” The survey, which takes 10-15 minutes, will then be compiled into data that they can use to create localized action plans. Plus, the data will open for the general public to view.
“It really sets the foundation of public health,” says Brooke. “With feedback, it tells us where there are still gaps throughout the county. And we can use the data to track our progress so far.”
This August, Poweshiek County Public Health will also host back-to-school clinics for grades 7-12, so mark your calendars! In Grinnell, they will host one at the Grinnell High School from 8 AM-noon on Thurs., Aug. 7; in Montezuma, their clinic will be held at Montezuma School from 8 AM-noon, on Wed., Aug. 6. These clinics mean free physicals, immunizations, and dental screenings, all mandatory for incoming public school students.
Let Poweshiek County Public Health know what resources you enjoy, or indicate a new resource you think the community would benefit from with their Community Health Needs Assessment Survey (prcsurvey.com/begin/Grinnell2025CHNA), which closes at 4 PM on Friday, July 31. Health is not limited to one’s individual experiences, but our collective voices can certainly contribute to a healthier Grinnell.
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