Black Hawk County officials warn service gaps after state reorg of mental health regions

Mary, a county social services representative, told the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors on June 24 that state legislation signed this year will "sunset" the current mental health and disability service regions effective June 30, and that intake and most behavioral-health and substance-use contacts will move to new regional contractors beginning July 1.

Mary said the East Central Region (disability access) and Iowa Primary Care Association (behavioral health and substance use) will be the points of contact for many services, and that local office-based coordinators at the Pinecrest Building will not be available after Friday. "I was told that in the meeting with HHS. I have not seen that in writing," Mary said about assurances that current payments will continue through the end of the calendar year.

The county representative provided phone contacts that residents and providers can use: (319) 892-5671 for East Central Region-related disability access, ecriowa.com for the East Central Region web page, and the…