Our vision is to be the healthiest county in the state of Iowa.

Our mission is to be a community-focused network promoting the health & well-being of Cass County residents.

Meeting: January 12, 2026, from 12-1 pm.

• The January Healthy Cass County meeting was held in person at Cass County Community Center.
• Topic: Cass County Cancer Rates & Local Organization Connections

Meeting Attendees:

Keri Adkins - Parent Partners, Sam Schwartz - ZION Integrated Behavioral Health, Shiona Putnam - Community Member, Fern Lindwill - Community Partner, Amanda Wahlert - ZION Integrated Behavioral Health, Christina Bettini - RSVP, Elaine Otte - City Council, Ann McCurdy - Cass Health, Sue Riggs - Local Food Policy Council, Jennifer Arp - Cass Health, Kathy Blazek - Community Member, Tabetha Smith - Cass Health, Kate Olson - Cass County Extension, Wendy Richter - Cass County Supervisor, Grace McAfee - Public Health, Megan Roberts - Cass Health.

Cass County Cancer Rates & Community Action – Meeting Recap

Community partners recently gathered to learn more about cancer trends in Cass County and how local organizations can support prevention and early detection efforts.

Cass Health shared that Cass County currently ranks #1 in Iowa for cancer incidence, with about 114 new cancer cases each year. Statewide, Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the nation. National research shows 30–50% of cancers are preventable, with smoking, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and radon exposure among the leading risk factors.

Cass Health highlighted ongoing efforts, including standardized screening guidelines, health coaches to help patients schedule overdue screenings, free radon test distribution, new data dashboards, and expanding education through videos, podcasts, and community partnerships.

Participants discussed simple ways to bring cancer prevention into daily life, including:

• hosting a fruit and vegetable challenge at work,
• encouraging coworkers to stay up to date on cancer screenings,
• sharing screening reminders in newsletters or staff meetings,
• inviting family members to join for daily walks or physical activity,
• promoting tobacco-free environments, and
• sharing trusted prevention resources on social media or within community groups.

The meeting concluded with a call for continued collaboration across Cass County to make healthy choices easier, increase screening rates, and reduce cancer risk for residents.

Community Wellness Updates:

Mobile Food Pantry Dates & Emergency Food Access Update

The 2026 Mobile Food Pantry schedule for Cass County is now available, with distributions planned in Atlantic, Massena, and Anita from February through June. Additional dates for July–October will be released in mid-March. Mobile pantries remain an important resource for improving food access and supporting the health of families across our communities.

In addition, the Cass County Food Pantry network and Cass County Communications Center have implemented a new, streamlined protocol for after-hours emergency food needs. If someone experiences a food emergency outside of regular pantry hours, they should call: 712-243-2204

This number connects callers to the Cass County Communications Center, which will gather basic information (location, household size, transportation needs, and dietary concerns) and contact the appropriate local pantries’ on-call volunteers to coordinate assistance. During regular pantry hours, individuals should continue to contact or visit their local pantry directly.

This updated process helps ensure faster response times, clear coordination between pantries, and consistent support for residents when they need it most.

Local Food Pantries to Launch New Tablet Intake System with Food Bank for the Heartland

All Cass County food pantries and mobile food pantry sites that partner with the Food Bank for the Heartland will soon begin using a new tablet-based client intake system.

Patrons will be checked in using tablets at distributions. While first-time visits may take a few extra minutes, future visits will be much faster. Once a household is entered into the system at any participating pantry or mobile pantry, they will be recognized at all locations, allowing for quicker check-in by simply stating their name.

To prepare volunteers, the Food Bank for the Heartland will host a training:

Thursday, January 29 | 5:00–6:00 PM

Cass County Public Health Office, 1408 E. 10th St., Atlantic

All volunteers who assist with client check-ins are encouraged to attend. The new system will officially launch at mobile food pantry distributions on February 11 and will become required at all partner locations in the future.

This update will help streamline operations, reduce paperwork for volunteers, and improve consistency and coordination across Cass County’s food assistance network.

The Gathering Updated Schedule:

Coalition Member Updates:

Sam Schwartz, Brain Health Matters - Brain Health Matters is working to get Hope Squad into the Nodaway Valley School District. Please check out the flyer to learn how you can support.

Lisa Carstens, ZION IBH - ZION's Chasing Wellness and December Toilet Talk Newsletters are attached below. ZION is getting into schools to discuss prevention.

Want to be involved?

Email mcage@casshealth.org to learn more about partner opportunities. Stay Involved This Summer at the Healthy Cass County Coalition Booths

• WIC Clinics - 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month

Urgent Needs Guide

The most up-to-date Urgent Needs Guide is available on the Cass Health website. Select Community, then Public Health, and scroll down to find the Urgent Needs Guide link.