DEWITT —
Clinton, Cedar, Jackson, Muscatine and Scott counties have joined together as a region to help provide mental health and disability services to citizens.
The five counties have created the Eastern Iowa Mental Health and Disability Services Region. The supervisors from the counties’ boards agreed it is a huge undertaking with many obstacles to overcome and questions still to be answered.
“We have many months of work ahead, but, I think as board members we feel very confident that we can produce and operate a region that will serve all the citizens of these five counties,” Scott County Supervisor Larry Minard said during a public meeting held at 6 p.m. on Monday night at Central High School.
Members of the public asked questions about what services will be available under the new region. Several dozen people attended the meeting. Consumers, family members and providers expressed concerns about the availability of mental health services and funds in their particular areas. With the mental health redesign, a $47.28 per capita cap has been created for every resident in Iowa. Some counties may gain through this change, while others such as Clinton, will lose funding. Concern was also expressed on the loss of block grants for community mental health facilities.
“It’s going to be a huge undertaking. This is the easiest part, tonight. This is the easiest part of what we have facing us,” Jackson County Supervisor and Mental Health and Disability Services Commissioner Jack Willey said.
The supervisors reminded the public that this mental health region is in its infancy. Earlier in the meeting, Willey explained some of the requirements a region must meet and the upcoming deadlines for Iowa counties. Counties must submit a letter of intent by April 1, 2013 and join a region by Dec. 31, 2013. Management plans are due April 1, 2014 and regions must be in compliance June 30, 2014 and operating by July 1, 2014. A mental health region is required to have a minimum of three counties, a community mental health center or federally qualified hospital, patient psychiatric services that are reasonably accessible and core services available.
Minard explained that the five counties have been working together to create seven principles for the region, which were voted on and approved. As part of these principles the region must move forward in spirit of cooperation with trust and respect for different opinions. Property tax money is to be spent for each county’s residents and each county has one vote. Counties are to maintain a local access point and provide uniform services which offer the patients choices. The region should not create another layer of government and case management personnel should be chosen by each county, not the region.
“I believe the counties are up to the challenge and will move forward with enthusiasm. Our number one goal is to make sure that people with special needs can live, learn, work, recreate in the least restrictive environment possible,“ Willey said. He added that the five counties are committing to work together and are ‘taking a giant leap into the future for thousands of people’s lives.”
As each county voted on the resolution to form the region, the supervisors commented on working with each other. The agreed that they are excited and happy to be working together and are ready for the challenges that face them.
“But we have begun that journey and I guess, it’s always a lot more fun to take a journey with a group of friends,” Clinton County Supervisor Jill Davisson said.
Local News
Related Photos
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Several dozen people attended an Eastern Iowa Mental Health and Disability Services Region meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday night at Central High School. Supervisors from Clinton, Cedar, Jackson, Muscatine and Scott counties spoke about the mental health redesign and the formation of this region to manage services. Samantha Pidde/Clinton Herald
Discussion
September 18, 2012
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