• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Health / Medicine / Board releases to-do list for children’s mental health services in Iowa

Board releases to-do list for children’s mental health services in Iowa

November 16, 2018 By Radio Iowa Contributor

Jerry Foxhoven (file photo)

A state board has completed its plan for greatly expanding options for Iowa children who need mental health care services. Department of Human Services Director Jerry Foxhoven says he’s optimistic lawmakers and the governor will implement the board’s proposals.

“We looked at what is doable quickly and what is most important quickly, so we know we need crisis services,” Foxhoven says. “We know that we need, like, an 800 hotline. We know that we need universal screenings — so some of those steps we require almost immediately.”

The plan calls for mental health screening of Iowa children under the age of 18, so parents and professionals can perhaps intervene earlier — before there’s a crisis. Peggy Huppert, the leader of a mental health advocacy group, says she’s encouraged by the recommendations, but she cautions that lawmakers will have to find money somewhere to make the entire plan a reality.

Foxhoven says he’s optimistic lawmakers will make it a priority.

“There’s been such a commitment from the governor and from both sides of the aisle that it’s worth putting money into it,” Foxhoven says.

There’s no estimate, yet, of exactly how much money is needed to implement the plan.

(Thanks to Iowa Public Radio’s Katarina Sostaric)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Health / Medicine, News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Insurance, Kim Reynolds, Legislature

Featured Stories

Governor ends public airing of state agency budget requests

Former Manchester hospital CEO given suspended 10-year sentence

After 70 years, southwest Iowa woman files final ‘Up a Country Lane’ column

Sioux City residents can once again own pit bulls

Meth use in Iowa surges; all-time high number seek treatment

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa State’s Campbell agrees to contract extension

Epenesa and Duncan honored by B1G

Iowa’s Nunge sidelined by knee injury

State board proposes changes for sports eligibility, creation of summer dead period

Iowa’s Epenesa honored by B1G

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2019 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC