Initiatives

Current Assessments

Resources

Department of Justice (DOJ) Glenwood Resource Center (GRC) Investigation

Children's Mental Health Lawsuit

On January 6, 2023, a suit was brought against the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of Medicaid-eligible children with serious mental and behavioral health needs, which asserted that Iowa administers an inadequate mental health system that does not provide children and youth with legally required services.

To address these issues, HHS has launched major transformations through the Mental Health and Disability Regional structure to provide core services to children in Iowa and will continue to improve the state’s mental health system specifically for all Iowans.

• Press Release: HHS Enters Interim Settlement Agreement
• Press Release: Court Preliminarily Approves Settlement Agreement Filed to Ensure Iowa's Children Receive Vital Mental Health Services
• Complaint: 4:23-cv-00009-SHL-HCA - childrensrights.org
• Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement
• Interim Settlement Agreement - fully executed
• C.A. v. Garcia Executed Settlement Agreement
• Court’s Order Granting Preliminary Approval of the Settlement Agreement
• C.A. v. Garcia Amended Implementation Plan

Class Action Suit at the Boys State Training School (STS) in Eldora

The following are resources regarding a class action suit at the Boys State Training School (BSTS) in Eldora, Iowa. We are actively making changes to address the concerns raised in the suit. We’re committed to sharing information and updates as we make progress. The Iowa Department of Human Services continues its commitment to an open dialog with all stakeholders and building trust through transparency.

• Summary of the Class Action Suit at the Boys State Training School (BSTS) in Eldora
• Summary of the Remedial Plan for BSTS
• Summary of BSTS Student Care and Treatment - March 25, 2020

Health and Human Services Alignment

To better serve Iowans, Governor Reynolds established an initiative to align state government. As part of the reorganization, state agencies were restructured and consolidated. The Iowa Department of Human Services and the Department of Public Health merged to form the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  The following were incorporated into HHS:

• Department on Aging
• Department of Human Rights
• Early Childhood Iowa
• Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service
• Child Advocacy Board
• Consumable Hemp Registration

Goals of HHS alignment:

1. More efficiently and effectively manage health and human services programs that are the responsibility of the state.
2. Establish a health and human services policy for the state.
3. Promote health and the quality of life in the health and human services field.