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October 2020 Edition

Crisis Response News and More

Welcome to the October 2020 edition of the Southwest Iowa MHDS Regional Newsletter.

The Region is excited to announce an addition to our team, updates from the region and changes that have been made to our Regional website.

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Region announces new staff member

The Region is excited to welcome Chasity Kephart, Service Coordinator to our central office in Council Bluffs.

Chasity began working for the region on 9/28/2020. She previously worked at CHI Mercy Hospital on the Acute Behavioral Health unit for 4 years, prior to that she worked in the Academic Center at Children’s Square USA for a total of 5 years.

Chasity feels blessed to be given the opportunity to work for the region. She is excited about being out in the community, and is hopeful to make a difference in people’s lives.

Chasity resides in Council Bluffs, with her husband and daughter, and also 3 step sons that she enjoys spending time with. In her spare time, she enjoys crafting, and being outdoors.

Chasity has a passion for mental health, and helping others and is a great addition to our regional staff.

Region Updates:

CARES Act Grants to Providers & School Districts

The Region received $1.78 million in CARES Act funding. The Region accepted grant requests from schools and community MHDS providers until September 8^th. Over forty applications were received. Fifteen were from MHDS providers and the remainder were from schools districts in the Southwest Iowa MHDS Region. Some of the items requested were outdoor seating/shade, technology and sensory/relaxation room items, water bottle fillers, curriculums and telehealth equipment. The Governing Board approved $1.4 million of the requests. There will likely be another round of requests for the remaining funds.

Rural Act Planning Update

Heartland Family Service has an Assertive Community Treatment program that is currently serving individuals in Pottawattamie, Harrison and Mills counties. They have been doing research to see how other rural teams operate and are assisting the region in looking at the number of individuals needing the service per the managed care organizations (MCO’s) to determine if it’s feasible to move into the remaining rural areas.

CAN Planning

Planning for the Crisis Access Network (CAN) has slowed due to COVID. It is still targeted to start on July 1, 2021. Next steps are to form memorandums of understanding (MOU) with providers in the network of services, identify and contract with a prescriber for 24 hour consultation, and identify and contract with a transportation provider.

Check out the Region's new website design!!!!

The Region has been working with a new web-design team (Neapolitanlabs) to revamp our Regional website. We hope you enjoy the new design as we have worked hard to make changes that we think will make our website more user friendly. Please go to swiamhds.org to check out the new design and some of the new features!

The SWIA MHDS Region's Crisis Stabilization Services

Mental Health Crisis Response Team

Provides multiple crisis service

Precommital screening for residents of the SWIA Region

Assessments for court ordered committals

Telehealth Crisis Response available to SWIA Region residents. Services include assessment, stabilization and referrals to community services. This service can only be initiated by Law Enforcement

These services are expanding into all counties in the Region

For further information, Law Enforcement can contact Jenny Stewart (Director) at 712-325-5619

"To avoid the need for an Emergency Protective Custody hold or inpatient psychiatric hospitalization"

Service provided by Heartland Family Service

Call (712) 303-7066 to make a referral

Referrals accepted 24 hours a day

A screening set up within 24 hours

Accepts referrals from friends, family, emergency departments and outpatient providers

Accepts referrals from Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby counties

"Provides a safe, caring, and home-like environment to those with a mental illness in crisis while modeling skills needed to successfully navigate in the community"

Service provided by Waubonsie Mental Health Center

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Call (844) 673-4469 for help and support

Crisis line available 24/7, toll free and confidential

Connects individuals in crisis to a helping hand and the resources to address and improve mental wellness

Anyone can call, including service providers on behalf of clients and patients

For residents of Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby counties

"Improving mental wellness, hope and outcomes for residents of Southwest Iowa in times of crisis"

Service operated by Boys Town

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Hope4Iowa link