Courtesy photo
Carla Hemmer prepares to cut the 40th anniversary CAHS celebratory cake.

Consolidated Agency of Human Services, better known as CAHS to Mineral County residents can be an overlooked asset in our community, until which time you realize that their services to our community are truly valuable.

At their 40th anniversary, the CAHS building was dedicated to JoAnn Jackson, the former Executive Director of the establishment. Jackson began with CAHS as the Family Resource Center Director in 2005. She was implemental in purchasing their current facility and would work tirelessly to obtain funding to purchase the building and make renovations. Her drive also brought a 4-wheel drive refrigerated truck into the fleet which could accommodate six pallets of food. Jackson served the community until her death in 2014.

Started in April of 1977, CAHS was primarily established to help feed low-income individuals in Mineral County. Founding members were: Dennis Conly; Anita Bray; Kitty Heaney; Betty Anderson and Barbara Harnage. As the community changed, so did CAHS by responding with innovative programming.

The mission statement of CAHS reads, “CAHS exists to assist people in need, helping them move toward economic self sufficiently and reduce their dependence on public support through innovative approaches to programs and services. AHS strives to help families achieve stability through education and works to end family violence and sexual assault while promoting and advocating safety for all.”

Over their 40 years, CAHS has been housed in three different locations until the agency was able to purchase a building to call home. This building is large enough to accommodate all their current programs as well as giving CAHS room to grow for future endeavors.

CAHS is a non-profit agency and is unique in their duties. In the State of Nevada, they act as the county social services office yet, the employees are not considered county employees nor do they receive the benefits like a county employee would. There are five employees on staff.

A few examples of programs offered through CAHS include: Backpack Buddies program which gives low-income children free and reduced lunches at school and on Thursday the child is provided a backpack of food for the weekend; back-to-school supplies are given to qualifying children at the start of each new school year; the Children’s Angel Tree Program which provides Christmas gifts to low-income children as well as a kids coat drive where a child is given a new warm winter coat. The domestic violence services are added to the growing list of services CAHS provides to Mineral County.

Today, the current directors: Commissioner Jerrie Tipton; Connie Harnage, Karen Boyles, Sheila Viani; Schyler Hagen; Calvin (Reese) Schultz; Sheriff Randy Adams; Larry Jackson and Cora Towe as well as the employees of CAHS work hard on assisting Mineral County residents for a healthier future of their residents.