Marion proclaims Mental Health Awareness Month; Linn County Access Center describes 24/7 crisis services and statewide challenges

The Marion City Council on May 22 proclaimed May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month and received an update on the Linn County Mental Health Access Center’s crisis services.

The proclamation was presented by Mayor Pro Tem Gage Muscumin on behalf of Mayor Nicholas Abu Asli. Jenna Shonifer of Foundation 2 Crisis Services, a Marion resident, spoke after the proclamation, saying, “We now, respond about 12,000 times a month. So that's 12,000 times people are reaching out in crisis needing help, including families that live in Marion.”

The council then heard a 20-minute presentation from Erin Foster, director of the Linn County Mental Health Access Center. Foster described the center as a Linn County program that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week: “We never close. So we're open 24 7, 3 65.” She said the center is staffed through contracts with three nonprofits (Foundation 2, Abbey Community Mental Health Center and Area Ambulance) and clarified who the center serves: adults only, voluntarily — not people on involuntary committals — and not people who are violent or cannot be de-escalated.

Why this matters: the Access Center provides a non‑hospital, non‑jail option for people in crisis and partners with law enforcement and EMS to divert people from emergency rooms or custody when appropriate. Foster said law‑enforcement handoffs at the center average about four minutes and that national diversion numbers are reflected locally — “around 43 percent of the individuals that come in with law enforcement would have gone to jail and about 20 percent would have gone to the hospital,” she said.

Foster described two operational changes important to Marion residents: an Iowa legislative change now allows EMS agencies to bill to transport people to designated access centers (effective July 1), and Area Ambulance provides the center’s sobering unit. She said the legislative change should increase EMS transports to the center and training opportunities for EMS partners. Foster also expressed concern about the state’s behavioral health realignment scheduled to take effect July 1, saying contracts and rates were still unsettled and that access center staff were working to ensure clients do not feel that uncertainty.

Officer Phil, a Marion law enforcement representative involved with the Access Center, told the council he had seen the program reduce law‑enforcement time spent on mental‑health calls dramatically: “The 4 minute thing for us is phenomenal because we would have the option to take someone to the hospital and we'd be there for 2 to 4 hours.”

Council members and several Marion residents identified during public comment praised the center and urged continued local investment. Resident Erica Bernard, who identified herself as a nurse and family member of someone who died by suicide, thanked the council and urged “long term and meaningful strategies to support mental health services in Marion.” Anna Clymer, a Marion resident and member of the Marion Alliance, urged continued funding and expanded liaison and training roles, and Iris Strong, a Marion resident, described personal experience with local services and the value of available resources.

Clarifying details captured in the presentation and public comments included: the Access Center is located on Cedar Rapids’ northwest side and serves adults only; it operates 24/7/365; it is voluntary (does not take involuntary committals); Area Ambulance provides a sobering unit; Foundation 2 provides crisis counseling and operates a law‑enforcement liaison (referred to in remarks as Rochelle) who can bypass triage and connect clients directly to services; a state law change (effective July 1) allows EMS agencies to bill for transports to designated access centers; the county Access Center partners with Salvation Army and local providers; and the state behavioral health realignment scheduled for July 1 raised outstanding questions about rates and contracts.

The council did not take formal action on funding or policy at the meeting but received the update and the proclamation. Officials and residents urged continued emphasis on outreach, funding and coordination with law enforcement and EMS to expand effective crisis response.