Mahaska County Public Health

05/27/2026

Supporting the Mental Health of Farmers and Agricultural Communities

Farming is more than a job — it’s a way of life. But the pressures of farming today can be overwhelming. Financial stress, unpredictable weather, long hours, isolation, and uncertainty about the future can take a serious toll on mental health.

The Farmer Mental Health Resilience Program was created by Rural Minds to provide farmers and ranchers, farm families, farm workers, and those who support them with practical, trusted mental health resources. This free program offers education, tools, and support to help strengthen resilience, reduce stigma, and save lives.

Because taking care of the farm starts with taking care of yourself. Learn More:

Farmer Mental Health Resilience Program This hub offers practical mental health resources, conversation tools, and real-world support tailored to the unique pressures of farming and rural life. Created for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural communities, this free program is designed to strengthen r...

05/16/2026

It can be hard to care for your childrenothers if you aren’t also caring for yourself. Your Life Iowa and 988 are here to help.
If you need emotional support, reach out to the national mental health hotline 988 or head to https://yourlifeiowa.org/

05/12/2026

Explore cancer data for the State of Iowa. Since 2000, Iowa has a 40% increase in oral cavity and pharynx cancer. To read the report click here and to see the oral cavity and neck cancer rates in your county go to:
https://bit.ly/4u0naHX

05/12/2026

It’s OK to have a mental illness — many people do. is a community campaign to reduce stigma by increasing understanding about mental illness. Learn more at MakeItOKIowa.org

05/05/2026

Join Mahaska Health and community partners for an important conversation about cancer in Mahaska County. This event, part of the statewide Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project, focuses on education, awareness, and community discussion across all 99 counties.

Hosted in collaboration with the Iowa Cancer Registry and the University of Iowa College of Public Health, the event will provide data specific to Mahaska County, including cancer rates, risk factors, and prevention strategies. A portion of the evening will be dedicated to community discussion, with time for attendees to ask questions and engage.

The presentation will be led by Mary Charlton, PhD, Director of the Iowa Cancer Registry and Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa. Guest speakers also include Dr. Jason Wittmer, Medical Director Respiratory Care, Clinical Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. A Mahaska Health physician panel will also join the discussion, providing local clinical perspective and education.

This event will be held in person, with an option to attend online.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Gateway Church, Oskaloosa, IA

Register to attend in person or online: https://tinyurl.com/mahaskacoia

We are grateful to partner with organizations across Iowa to bring this important discussion to our community.

Learn more about the 99 Counties Project: http://www.iowacancerregistry.org/99
View the full list of panelists: mahaskahealth.org/99counties

04/26/2026

Introducing Iowa’s New SUN Bucks Program!

Starting in early June 2026, eligible Iowa school-age children will receive $120 in grocery benefits per child to support healthy eating when school’s out.

Who’s eligible? You can qualify by automatic eligibility or through an application.

Automatically eligible kids include those who were in grades K–12 during the 2025–2026 school year, and their school took part in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), OR are 6-16 years old between July 1, 2025, and August 14, 2026.

All automatically eligible children must also meet at least one of the following:

•Their household received SNAP or FIP
•Their household received Medicaid at or below 185% of the federal poverty level
•They are in foster care
•They were approved for Free or Reduced-Price School Meals (through an application with their school)

Some families may qualify but will need to apply. This includes children who are not identified through SNAP, FIP, Medicaid, or school meal records. Applications will open in early June. You can learn more here: https://hhs.iowa.gov/assistance-programs/food-assistance/sun-bucks.

04/14/2026

Serving Lucas, Marion, Mahaska and Monroe Counties. Applying is easy! 5 minute phone call, no proof of income needed, Confidential and supportive. Your health matters and we want to help you make it easier to protect. 641-828-2238

04/08/2026

04/08/2026

Mahaska County Public Health celebrates Public Health Week! In partnership with Mahaska Health, our team is dedicated to providing compassionate public health services to individuals and families across Mahaska County. Caring for our community means supporting health at every stage of life. From prevention and education to local services, our team is here for individuals and families across Mahaska County.

To learn more, please call 641-672-3257, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

04/08/2026

It’s National Public Health Week! Public health is something that you use each day, and you may not even know. It helps make you and family safer and healthier by providing access to a variety of services related to health care, environmental health, substance use and more.

Visit hhs.iowa.gov to learn more about how public health works across your community every day!

11/14/2025

As the federal government reopens, Iowa HHS will issue full SNAP benefits for the month of November.

Benefits are being loaded onto cards now and could be available later today. We anticipate that all SNAP benefits will be issued by Friday, Nov. 14, and recommend that SNAP recipients check their EBT card balances before making a purchase.

You can check your EBT balance by calling the number on the back of your card, 800-359-5802, logging into your ConnectEBT account online, or using the ConnectEBT Mobile app.