Iowa Mental Health Resources

General Iowa Mental Health Information

Iowa Mental Health and Disabilities Division

The home page for the division within Iowa DHS that serves as the state mental health authority. 

Central Points of Coordination (CPC's)

Listing of contact information for all CPC's in Iowa, by county

Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) in Iowa

CMHCs are listed by county.

Mental Health Spending by County

These data, published in the Des Moines Register on Feb 20, 200 detail county expenditures for mental health in 2006 and 2007.

Iowa Mental Health Workforce Issues

Like many states, Iowa is facing a crisis in its mental health workforce.  This includes psychiatrists as well as other mental health professionals and providers.  This links to several recent reports detailing this. 

Polk County Network of Care for Mental Health and Disability Services

This is a useful resource for consumers, families and providers, intended for, but not limited to those in the Des Moines area. 

State of Iowa Disaster Behavioral Health Plan

The goals of this document, finalized in April 2006 are 1)To outline and organize state-level behavioral health plans and interventions that are involved in pre-disaster planning, responses to disasters, recovery from disasters and post-disaster evaluations; and 2) To help counties in the development of their disaster behavioral health plans.

Medical Assistance Crisis Intervention Team (MACIT) report

This statewide initiative, led by then University of Iowa President Skorton , was carried out in 2005 in order to advise the state on its Medicaid policies in light of significant budget shortfalls.

Iowa Mental Health in the Recent News

"Concern About Serious Mental Illness Stigma After VT Shootings"  KCRG TV, 4/25/07

Iowa Mental Health Block Grant-Related

Community Mental Health Block Grant and Implementation Reports

Final versions of Iowa 's Performance Partnership Block Grants and Implementation Reports.  This is for federal money that is passed through states to enhance the public mental health system.  Iowa receives about $3.7 million/year.  The money is contingent upon completing a very extensive application and implementation report annually, shown here. 

Guidelines for agencies applying for block grand funds

Information for mental health agencies in Iowa that have been designated by their counties as potential block grant recipients.  These materials were those used for the current year monies. 

Legislative Information

Current Bills of Interest

Decision Nears on MH/DD funding

Update on SF 576 as of April 13th

HF 146

Representative Mark Smith's bill that attempts to address the psychiatric workforce shortage

sessions

Summary of 2006 Legislative Session

Mental Health and Disabilities Services System Improvement Efforts

2007 Mental Health Systems Improvement Documents

This details the findings from the six workgroup from the Summer/Fall 2007 on recommendations for MHDS systems improvement - released Dec 3, 2007.  It also includes the "charter document" on co-occurring disorders.

Evidence-Based Practices Workgroup Report:  Fall 2007

Earlier "Redesign" Efforts in Iowa's Mental Health System

System Design Progress Report - 2005

 

MHDD System Redesign Report 2003

"Mental Health Planning in Iowa: 1965" - Summary and Recommendations

This is a very interesting historical document that summarizes a two year effort in the early 1960's to envision Iowa's mental health system as it transformed from one which was institutionally-based to a community-based system. Valuable reading.

"Mental Health Planning in Iowa:  1965" - Full Report

This is a long (135 page) document that presents all of the findings of the effort summarized above. 

 

Iowa Mental Health Commitment Laws

Application for order of involuntary hospitalization

The legal code that describes the steps that initiate the process by which an individual can be brought to a hospital involuntarily for evaluation

Judge may order immediate custody

Describes that legal process by which the person can actually be brought to the hospital involuntarily, while awaiting a commitment hearing.

Procedure after application is filed

Steps that must be taken after someone is brought in for involuntary hospitalization, but has not yet had a hearing

Outpatient commitment

Describes various aspects of the outpatient commitment process and what happens when someone on outpatient commitment is not doing well. 

Iowa Courthouses

Locations, phone numbers and other contact information for all of Iowa's county courthouses.

Ongoing Clinical Research Studies in Iowa

University of Iowa Clinical Research Studies

This site lists clinical research studies that are currently ongoing at the University of Iowa, many of which are seeking appropriate volunteer participants. 

National Resources

New Freedom Commission on Mental Health

Reports from the President's New Freedom Commission

This links to all of the reports from the commission, including the executive summary (a must read).

Executive Order creating the Commission

The objectives and mandate of the commission

Article on impact of the New Freedom Commission

From the New England Journal of Medicine

Campaign for Mental Health Reform

Presents a constructive set of steps and action items to implement the vision of the President's New Freedom Commission.

NAMI Iowa (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Iowa)

The nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families.

State Profiles of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in Medicaid

A good resource - summarizes Medicaid policies around MH and SA for each state

 

NIMH Resources

ICMH and NIMH Outreach Partnership Program

The Iowa Consortium for Mental Health is part of the NIMH Outreach Partnership Program, a nationwide outreach initiative of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) that enlists State and national organizations in a partnership to help close the gap between mental health research and clinical practice, inform the public about mental health disorders, reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness, and increase the public's awareness of the importance of basic and clinical research in advancing knowledge of the brain and behavior. \\

NIMH Clinical Trials

Information on what clinical research studies are currently ongoing in psychiatry around the country.  Includes contact information if you or someone you know may wish to participate as a research subject. Progress can not be made without these studies, and these studies can not go on without appropriate participants. 

 

Do you suffer from a mental disorder? Or do you know someone who does?

NIMH offers information about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illnesses. Included are brochures and information sheets, reports, press releases, fact sheets, and other educational materials.

2003 National Survey on Drug Use & Health:  Results

Lots of useful stats on trends in substance abuse in the U,S, over the past 40 years