Investigation Into the Timeliness of the Death Notification to the Surviving Spouse of a Motor Vehicle Accident Victim, 2005

Report: #05-02 Kirke C. Quinn, Attorney for Jo Anne Holland, first contacted the Ombudsman by letter dated January 2, 2004. Quinn also addressed his letter to the Governor’s Office, Iowa State Patrol (ISP), and Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS). Quinn characterized his letter as a complaint against ISP regarding “the method and manner of reporting the death of Ross Holland to his surviving spouse.” According to Quinn, Mrs. Holland “went through hours of misery as a result of the patrol’s inattention to a tragic situation.” On January 7, 2004, the Ombudsman asked ISP Major Gary Hoskins, Supervisor of Field Operations, how ISP and DPS intended to respond to Mr. Quinn’s letter. Major Hoskins stated he would refer Quinn’s letter of complaint to DPS’ Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) for investigation and response. After speaking with Major Hoskins, the Ombudsman told Mr. Quinn that DPS would do an internal investigation and if he were not satisfied with the results he could contact the Ombudsman again. On March 29, 2004, Mr. Quinn contacted the Ombudsman and stated he was not satisfied with DPS’ response. Quinn stated he would send a copy of the response to the Ombudsman, along with a letter stating his outstanding issues and concerns. In his letter to the Ombudsman, dated May 5, Quinn simply stated: “Please find enclosed [a] copy of the letter received from the Department of Public Safety. We think this is an absolute outrage. We welcome your input.”

How to Get Your Bearings - How to Get A Job: A Guide for Women who are Unemployed, Underemployed, or Underpaid

A guide for women who are preparing to enter the workforce. Produced by the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women.

Sexism in Education, Does Gender Equity Exist in Your Community School District?

Sexism in Education brochure produced by the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women

Your Credit Rights

A brouchure by the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women

Face the Facts: Topics to Discuss Now with Your Aging Parents, 2003

The The Eldercare Locator, a nationwide service funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging that links older consumers and their families to local aging services, produced this guide to help families “face the facts” about these important topics. The overview below addresses some key areas of concern, suggested questions to ask, and ways in which families might initiate conversations about these often difficult to discuss topics with their aging parents.

Gift of Peace of Mind-The For yourself For your Family,

The purpose of this booklet is to educate the public about advance directives. By doing so, we hope to increase the use of advance directives, as well as the quality and accuracy of the documents themselves. The reader is led through a series of steps that ultimately lead to filling out the advance directive documents in an informed manner.

Gift of Peace of Mind-The For yourself For your Family, 2000, Large Print Edition

The purpose of this booklet is to educate the public about advance directives. By doing so, we hope to increase the use of advance directives, as well as the quality and accuracy of the documents themselves. The reader is led through a series of steps that ultimately lead to filling out the advance directive documents in an informed manner.

Is it Time to Change Your Hat?, 2003

A one page informational sheet about skin cancer and the hat you wear. Sun Safety

Is a Combined School/Public Library Right for Your Community?

This document is intended to assist Iowa communities in making informed decisions on combining school and public library services. It provides decision-makers with a means of assessing the feasibility of establishing a combined library and, if the decision is made to proceed, with a Planning Guide that addresses the many areas of library operations that need to be considered if the combined library is to be successful. Alternatives to combining libraries exist. Contracted services provide one such option. There are many areas where school and public libraries can and should collaborate in order to provide better service to the community. These alternatives are also outlined in this document.

Health Care and Public Transit; Your Ticket to Health Care Access, 2005

Transportation is an important health care issue. The majority of the population here in Iowa have ready access and typically use private automobiles to access health care and other community services. There is also a significant segment of the population that either does not have access to a personal automobile or is not currently capable of driving. This can potentially limit their access to health care, but it has greater health implications because it can also limit access to nutrition and other community services, as well as involvement in social activities. For people unable to drive themselves, the alternatives generally include reliance on family, friends, volunteer groups, and public transit. Many choose transit because it gives them a degree of independence. Public transit is often used to supplement other options even when they are available. It becomes critical in circumstances where the other options don’t exist. In many cases there may be no family available or they may not always be able to get off work when travel needs arise during the workday. Friends may be in similar circumstances and volunteer groups may be either unavailable or overwhelmed. The fact that many patients depend on public transit to get to and from health care appointments makes it beneficial for health care professionals to get to know more about public transit and how it operates here in Iowa.

The Fox River Needs Your Help, 2007

The Fox River is on Iowa’s impaired waters list. By working to reduce pollution in the watershed, we can make the Fox River healthy again.

Farmers Creek: Our Stream Needs Your Help, 2006

Pollution from sediment and nutrients has hurt Farmers Creek’s fish population and placed the stream on the state’s impaired waters list. If we want to give our children and grandchildren clean water for drinking, swimming and fishing – we need to act now.

Protecting Your Spouse When You Go to a Nursing Home, July 2007

The Spousal Impoverishment Protection Law Have you ever wondered… What will happen if your spouse is not able to live at home because of poor health or confusion? Will you have to spend all of your resources to pay for your spouse’s nursing home care before Medicaid will help? The answer is, “NO”! You have protection from losing all income and assets to pay for your spouse’s care in the nursing home when your spouse qualifies for Medicaid.

Your Personalized Medicare Manager Is Waiting for You Online, 2007

Go to MyMedicare.gov and get the personalized information you need to make better health care choices. With this exciting new web tool, you can make the best health care decisions for your personal needs. MyMedicare.gov puts you in control.

THIS IS NOT A BILL What You Need to Know about Your Medicare Summary Notice, May 2007

Summary of Medicare information, your need to know information place.