We care about the people who use services for behavioral health, disability or aging. Just as important are the families and loved ones serving in caregiving roles. 
As experts in your role, we need your help.

Community-Based Services Overview

Hope and Opportunity in Many Environments (HOME) is a project in Iowa that is working to improve and ensure that everyone has access to high-quality behavioral health, disability and aging services in their communities.

To achieve this, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken many steps to understand what can be improved. The first step occurred in 2023. It was an evaluation of community-based services. Second, the team created a transformation plan to guide the next steps and implement the suggested improvements to work together to build a better HOME. Since then, Iowa HHS has gathered insights from Iowans who use community-based services, their caregivers, case managers and service providers. 

Iowans who use community-based services, their caregivers, case managers and service providers recently provided the HOME team with information about their experiences with care. Click here to view the results from the survey.

Waiver redesign concept paper:

 Invested Iowans have provided valuable feedback throughout the public engagement process – in May 2024, Iowa HHS hosted 3 listening sessions, with members and providers, to gather direct feedback on the proposed changes to home and community-based services waivers outlined in the concept paper. If you were unable to attend a listening session, view the presentation and recording below.

What have Iowans shared?

Iowans have been shaping the future of HOME in many ways. Navigate to this site to learn about how Iowa HHS has engaged the public, learn about the ideas shared and watch recordings of previous sessions. 

How will changes to the waivers impact me? 

Iowa HHS has created an FAQ to address frequently asked questions. 

How do I get involved?

We want to keep gathering input from Iowans! You can get involved in multiple ways: 

  • Sign up for our newsletter or find us on Facebook to learn about updates
  • Share your personal experiences and insights through group discussions, interviews, and surveys
  • Share additional suggestions through online public comments to improve the CBS system
  • Join a Medicaid Member Town Hall

Please sign up here to express your interest. If you have any questions, you can contact us at iowahcbs@mathematica-mpr.com

You can help shape the future of this project by sharing your thoughts and ideas through virtual and in-person community feedback opportunities.

What are the current feedback opportunities?

Please join us at Iowa Medicaid Town Halls. Iowa HHS will share updates on HOME progress and ask you to share your feedback too. Visit the Medicaid Town Hall webpage for a list of upcoming meetings.

 

 

HOME Updates

The Hope and Opportunity in Many Environments (HOME) team is enhancing systems to better serve Iowans accessing community-based services. This initiative provides a platform for Iowans to share feedback and help improve these services. View our timeline for an overview of our vision and next steps.

The timeline includes opportunities for feedback from community members, providers, case managers and supervisors and community-based organizations and advocacy staff.

HOME Updates