Behavioral Health Training

Crisis Services Training Toolkit

In December 2021, the Iowa HHS was awarded a Transformation Transfer Initiative (TTI) Grant from the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) to implement a workforce training and technical assistance initiative for providers of behavioral health crisis services with an emphasis on specific populations. HHS identified two populations: children and families experiencing crisis and individuals who identify as LGBTQ, as the populations of focus for this project.

A standardized training toolkit has been developed to assist Iowa’s 988 and crisis behavioral health providers in serving children and individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.
The goal of the project is to promote all parts of the crisis system collaboratively working together to serve both populations during crisis.

This training toolkit offers two tracks for crisis service providers. One track addresses working with children and families experiencing crisis, and the other track addresses providing crisis services for individuals who identify as LGBTQ+. There are also trainings that apply to both tracks and are considered “universal” for all 988 and crisis behavioral health providers. This toolkit will:

Strengthen the quality of services provided through Iowa’s 988 and crisis system for children and individuals who identify as LGBTQ+, and all Iowans with a serious emotional disturbance (SED) or serious mental health (SMI).
Help crisis service staff provide culturally competent care and communicate the lessons learned through the toolkit.

Live webinar dates are noted under each training. Click on the link below the training date for more information or to enroll and register. To register individuals must enroll in the training course and select the appropriate training date. A new window will open with the Zoom registration to be completed. Individuals should receive an email with the registration link and meeting information.

Note: Training dates marked with an asterisk (*) will be recorded and posted for up to one year following the final training date for those unable to attend in person. The recorded training will be available to watch on-demand one week following the final live training date. Additional trainings will be announced soon. Individuals will want to check this page periodically for new training topics and links.