Regional mental health changes, new residential beds and crisis training discussed to serve Louisa County residents

Bobby, a regional mental health and disability services coordinator, told the Louisa County Board that new regional services have expanded options for residents needing intensive supports and crisis care.

Bobby said the region contracted with First Resources to open an intensive residential service home (IRSH) in Ottumwa and another in Burlington; at the most recent report three of the four beds were occupied by people from the region. The region also contracts with providers for Assertive Community Treatment (ACT); Elevate is the ACT provider that covers Louisa County and meets monthly with the county's CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) meetings at the sheriff's office.

Bobby reported mobile crisis response call counts for the five-county region: 57 calls in October (five from Louisa) and 45 calls in December (one from Louisa, a youth). The region added a community stabilization program that can provide up to five days of crisis stabilization to help transition people from immediate crisis response into longer-term services.

Bobby also said the state passed House File 2673 and related administrative changes that reorganize mental health, addiction, gambling and tobacco services into a new system effective July 1; the administrative-service-organization award in the region went to the Iowa Provider Care Association and the county's region is cooperating with state planning and rulemaking. Bobby asked the board who should receive regional email updates; the board chair agreed to be added to the distribution list and to forward materials to the supervisors.

The board did not take formal action on the report but was asked to be receptive to information as the state rulemaking and transition proceed. Bobby asked supervisors to identify local participants for an April 7–11 CIT training (location being considered in Fairfield).