Governor’s order calls for board to create plan for children’s mental health system

After weeks of meetings, the Children's System State Board released its strategic plan Nov. 15, a report to serve as a road map for the implementation of a children's mental health system in Iowa.

The comprehensive plan sent to Gov. Kim Reynolds and state lawmakers identifies a target population and a timeline for a system that would include core services, stable funding and leadership.

It's up to state lawmakers to draft legislation to implement the statewide children's mental health system, which the board recommends go into effect by July 1, 2020.

Sen. Liz Mathis, D-Hiawatha, and a member of the board, said a large portion of the discussion focused on system governance.

In her executive order signed in April, Reynolds designated the board, along with the Department of Human Services, to create a strategic plan and to oversee the system.

Department Director Jerry Foxhoven said the disagreement among board members came down to local governance, particularly how the children's system would play into the current adult system.

Read more: Children's mental health: Young and struggling

Adult mental and behavioral health services in Iowa are structured into geographic mental health and disability services regions. The strategic plan laid out two options for the current region boards:

1. Existing boards could serve as the regional children's board for the children's system, or

2. Establish a separate regional board for the children's system, but made up of members of the adult regional board.

In the plan, regional boards would be charged with administering funds, developing core services and collecting data, among other tasks.

Another key question to the children's mental health system was a stable source of funding, said Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, and Children's System State Board member.

At a minimum, regional boards will be financially responsible for providing screenings and services otherwise not paid for by private insurance or Medicaid.

The Children's System State Board recommended state lawmakers consider several funding proposals during the 2019 session at the state Capitol, which would include expanding Systems of Care programs or eliminating the Medicaid waiting list for children seeking behavioral and mental health services.