A proposed change in how a federal block grant for mental health services is distributed in Iowa drew support and objections during a public hearing at the Iowa capitol. About five MILLION dollars has been sent THIS YEAR to 25 community mental health centers. The new plan would use that federal money to help set up mental health services for children in Iowa. Cynthia Steidl Bishop is C-E-O of a non-profit that provides mental health services in 11 counties.
Andrew Allen, C-E-O of Youth Shelter Services, is a member of the state board created to develop a children’s mental health system in Iowa. Allen says while he’d like to be discussing “new” funding, he supports the funding shift.
The proposal is included in a larger bill that spells out how several federal block grants are to be distributed in Iowa. The bill will be considered by a House subcommittee later this week.
