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Block Grant
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- FY25 Block Grant Application
- FY2024-2025 Combined Mental Health Block Grant Plan
- Feedback on the plan, should be emailed to Laura Larkin and Justin Edwards, Block Grant Planners
- NEW FY23 Substance Abuse Block Grant Report DRAFT
- NEW 2022/2023 SABG Only Application DRAFT
- Iowa Final FY2022.2023 Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Application Behavioral Health Assessment and Plan
- Iowa Final 2022 Substance Abuse Block Grant Report
Community Mental Health Services Block Grant
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The federal Community Mental Health Block Grant is dedicated to improving mental health service systems across the country through formula grants awarded to states.
The federal funding to states is authorized by Part B of Title XIX of the Public Health Service Act (see 42 U.S.C. Section 300x-1). Iowa receives about $5.5 million in federal mental health block grant funding each year. Iowa's use of the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant is overseen by the Division of Mental Health and Disability Services in accordance with federal regulations, state laws and legislation, and applicable agency rules.
The Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council (MHPC) is an advisory body to DHS.
- FY24 MHBG Report for FY23 Plan
- FY2023 MHBG Report for FY22 Plan
- FY2024-2025 Combined Mental Health Block Grant Plan
- FY2022-2023 Community Mental Health Block Grant Application and Plan
- FY2022 Community Mental Health Block Grant Implementation Report
- FY 2021 Community Mental Health Block Grant Application and Plan
Laura Larkin, Executive Officer 2
Iowa HHS, Division of Mental Health and Disability Services. Bureau of Community Services & Planning
1305 E. Walnut Street, 5th Floor SE, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0114
Phone: 515-242-5880 | Fax: 515-564-4166 | Email: llarkin@dhs.state.ia.us
Julie Maas, Program Planner 3
Iowa HHS, Division of Mental Health and Disability Services, Bureau of Community Services & Planning
1305 E. Walnut Street, 5th Floor SE, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0114
Phone: 515-281-3785 | Fax: 515-564-4166 | Email: jmaas@dhs.state.ia.us
SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR)
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SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery) is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
SOAR is designed to increase access to SSI/SSDI for eligible individuals who:
- Are homeless or at risk of homelessness
- Have a mental illness and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder
- Are able to apply for benefits as an adult under SSA rules, including individuals 17 years of age who are within one month of their 18th birthday.
- Youth aging out of the foster care system may apply within 90 days of their 18th birthday.
The SSI/SSDI application process can be complicated and difficult to navigate, particularly for people who are homeless or who are returning to the community from institutions (jails, prisons or hospitals). For those who have a mental illness, substance use issues, or co-occurring disorders that impair cognition, the application process poses an even greater challenge.
Accessing income and health care benefits is a critical first step on the road to recovery.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are disability income benefit programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that also provide Medicaid and/or Medicare health insurance to individuals who are eligible. SAMHSA SOAR website
Karen Hyatt, SOAR State Lead
Transforming Behavioral Healthcare in Iowa: CCBHC Planning Grant
List items for Transforming Behavioral Healthcare in Iowa: CCBHC Planning Grant
In March of 2023, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded Iowa HHS a one-year, $1 million, planning grant to develop Iowa’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC). Iowa was one of 15 states chosen to participate in this highly competitive planning grant cycle.
CCBHCs are specially designed clinics that provide a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use services. CCBHCs serve anyone who walks through their doors, regardless of diagnosis or insurance status. CCBHCs must meet certification criteria and must provide or coordinate nine core services, including:
- Crisis mental health services including 24-hour mobile crisis teams, emergency crisis intervention, and crisis stabilization.
- Screening, assessment, and diagnosis including risk assessment.
- Patient-Centered treatment planning or similar processes, including risk assessment and crisis planning.
- Outpatient mental health and substance use services.
- Outpatient clinic primary care screening and monitoring of key health indicators and health risk.
- Targeted case management.
- Psychiatric rehabilitation services.
- Peer support, counseling services, and family support services.
- Intensive community-based mental health care for members of the armed forces & veterans.
The wide array of CCBHC standards and requirements include:
- Getting people into care quickly.
- Ensuring access to 24/7 crisis services.
- Serving anyone who walks through the doors, regardless of diagnosis or insurance status.
- Providing care coordination to help people navigate behavioral health care, physical health care, social services and other needs.
CCBHC Planning Grant
Leveraging the CCBHC Planning Grant, Iowa HHS issued a Request for Proposal for organizations to apply who were interested in being certified by the State of Iowa as a CCBHC. Successful bidders were announced in the following Letter of Intent to Award.
In March 2024, Iowa HHS submitted an application to SAMHSA to be included in the CCBHC Demonstration. If included Iowa certified CCBHCs will be eligible for an alternative reimbursement for certain behavioral health services under a cost-based Prospective Payment System (PPS). As part of the application, Iowa HHS has provisionally certified nine providers across the state (see map). By providing provisional certification, Iowa HHS attests that the provider is in substantial compliance with CCBHC criteria and will likely be in full compliance and fully certified prior to the start of the State’s Demonstration, if awarded.
It is important to note that Iowa already has many providers who are self-certified as CCBHCs through SAMHSA’s grant program. These providers are known as CCBHC Expansion Grantees. They have received time limited grants from SAMHSA to support implementation of the CCBHC model in their organizations. This self-certification process is separate from the Iowa HHS certification process. Organizations that have been awarded Expansion Grants do not automatically qualify as state certified CCBHCs.
The CCBHC initiative is already the most significant investment ever made into sustaining and expanding behavioral healthcare in the United States. CCBHCs seek to transform behavioral healthcare delivery in communities with a consistent focus on ensuring access to high-quality, coordinated, community-based behavioral health services built on a strong foundation of evidence-based practice and integration of physical health care services.
To deliver on our transformative goals, HHS is actively working across divisions, with multiple state departments and with stakeholders. Activities have focused on developing Iowa’s state-specific CCBHC certification processes and requirements, development of a PPS and rate, statewide coordination of CCBHC effort and defining and refining data collection.
To paraphrase Iowa HHS Director, Kelly Garcia, "Transformation is a team sport."
The wide array of standards and requirements include:
- Getting people into care quickly
- Ensuring access to 24/7 crisis services
- Serving anyone who walks through the doors, regardless of diagnosis or insurance status
- Providing care coordination to help people navigate behavioral health care, physical health care, social services and other needs
The CCBHC initiative is already the most significant investment ever made into sustaining and expanding behavioral healthcare in the United States. Iowa intends to leverage its CCBHC Planning Grant to transform behavioral healthcare delivery in our communities with a consistent focus on ensuring access to high-quality, coordinated, community-based behavioral health services built on a strong foundation of evidence-based practice and integration of physical health care services.
To deliver on our transformative goals, HHS is actively working across divisions, with multiple state departments and with stakeholders. Activities will focus on developing Iowa’s CCBHC certification processes and requirements, development of a prospective payment system (PPS) and rate, statewide coordination of CCBHC effort and defining and refining data collection.
To paraphrase Iowa HHS Director, Kelly Garcia, "Transformation is a team sport."
To gather feedback from many different perspectives, Iowa HHS convened a Stakeholder Engagement Committee to assess and guide Iowa’s work. Find information about upcoming meetings as well as materials and recordings from past meetings on the CCBHC Stakeholder Engagement Committee webpage.
Iowa HHS is providing technical assistance to help CCBHC stakeholders get ready for the Iowa CCBHC Demonstration. These sessions are not open to the public and are limited to CCBHC awardees and their Designated Collaborating Organizations (DCO), where appropriate.
CCBHC Past Trainings and Materials
This module will go beyond the basic CCBHC introduction to cover more details around Federal CCBHC goals and requirements and operational lessons from providers who have implemented both CCBHC Expansion and Demonstration programs.
This module will go beyond general cultural competency concepts to provide more information, examples, and opportunities to implement CLAS approaches more comprehensively in a CCBHC. Topics will include:
— Introduction to National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards
— Advancing Behavioral Health Equity, including data collection & monitoring, outreach & engagement
— Culturally Responsive Care in Mental Health; Addressing Stigma
This module will cover the components of a robust Community Needs Assessment:
— Best practices for approach
— Where to find data
— Understanding your target audience (SAMHSA)
— Using data to tell a story about the need your organization is trying to fill
This module will cover partnering and providing CCBHC behavioral health services for:
— Veterans
— Tribal Populations
— Children and Families
— Older Adults
Concepts will go beyond general best practices to deepen strategies for delivering support to these populations leveraging the CCBHC paradigm.
IPN Grant
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The Integrated Provider Network (IPN) Grant provides statewide, community-based, resiliency- and recovery-oriented system of care for substance use and problem gambling services (prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery support). Prevention services are provided through 18 contractors that serve all 99 counties in Iowa.
IPN services are funded by the State General Fund appropriations for substance use and problem gambling services and the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG) through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Contractors comply with the definition of prevention in IAC 641-155 Licensure Standards for Substance Use Disorder and Problem Gambling Treatment Program: “activities aimed at minimizing the use of potentially addictive substances, lowering risk in at-risk individuals, or minimizing potential adverse consequences of substance use or gambling.”
Through 18 contractors serving all of Iowa’s 99 counties, prevention services are provided that address the lifespan using evidence-based programs appropriate to different persons and populations. Services are identified through the Strategic Prevention Framework and utilize the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Strategies and Institute of Medicine classifications. The following priorities are addressed through IPN prevention services:
- Alcohol
- Marijuana
- Methamphetamine
- Prescription Medications/Opioids
- Problem Gambling
- Suicide
- Tobacco
Call Katie Bee at 515-214-3699 or Julie Hibben at 515-326-5703.