Nine local organizations will receive a portion of $1 million in federal funding as part of a countywide effort to address mental health challenges in children and young adults. The program is funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration. It will be overseen by the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative (IHC). IHC Community Quality Initiatives Director Cari Seddon says Carroll County was one of very few communities to be selected for participation.
Unfortunately, according to Seddon, the criteria used for selection were not the best for Carroll County residents.
Due to the apparent need, Carroll County will receive $1 million per year for the next four years to be divvied up between St. Anthony Regional Hospital, Plains Area Mental Health Center, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Sioux City, Seasons Center for Behavior Help, New Opportunities, IHC, and three Carroll County school districts, Carroll, Kuemper Catholic, and Coon Rapids-Bayard. Seddon says each group will receive funding to address the needs of their respective clientele.
For example, St. Anthony plans to use their portion of the funding to enhance their emergency department’s mental health treatment capabilities. Kuemper Catholic will expand counseling spaces at St. Lawrence and Holy Spirit and provide tablets for virtual counseling sessions. IHC will track program implementation and outcomes, and they hope to expand to other Carroll County organizations as the initiative develops.
