Children's Behavioral Health System State Board

The Children’s Behavioral Health System State Board (Children’s Board) is the single point of responsibility in the implementation and management of a Children’s Mental Health System (Children’s System) that is committed to improving children’s well-being, building healthy and resilient children, providing for educational growth, and coordinating medical and mental health care for those in need.

About the State Board

Signed into law on May 1, 2019, House File 690 established requirements for the Children's Behavioral Health System after receiving the Strategic Plan for the Children's System State Board as ordered by Executive Order No. 2 signed April 23, 2018.

The Children’s Board consists of 17 voting members appointed by the Governor. The Children’s Board is co-chaired by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education. Members of the Children's Board were selected based on their interest and experience in the areas of children's mental health, education, juvenile court, child welfare, or other related fields.

Children’s Board meeting notices and other information are distributed by email about one week prior to meetings.

Role of the Board

The Children’s Board is created as the state body to provide guidance on the implementation and management of a children’s system for the provision of services to children with a serious emotional disturbance.

Duties

To the extent funding is available, the Children’s Board shall perform the following duties:

Advise the administrator of the Division of Mental Health and Disability Services on the administration of the Children’s System.
Provide consultation services to agencies regarding the development of administrative rules for the Children’s System.
Identify behavioral health outcomes and indicators for eligible children with a serious emotional disturbance to promote children living with their own families in the community.
Submit a written report on or before December 1 of each year to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding Board activities, results from identified behavioral health outcomes, and indicators for the Children’s System.