Seats open on regional mental health board

WASHINGTON - Recent legislation passed by the Iowa Legislature will result in mental health stakeholders having seats on Mental Health and Disability Services Region boards.

That was one of the messages outlined in a draft of a resolution discussed by the Washington County Board of Supervisors when it met in regular session Tuesday, Sept. 17, at the Washington County Courthouse. All members were present including Abe Miller, Jack Seward Jr., Stan Stoops, Bob Yoder and Richard Young.

Supervisor Seward led the discussion of the resolution, which he hopes the board can adopt at its Sept. 24 meeting. Washington County Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS) is the local access point for Southeast Iowa Link (SEIL), a Mental Health and Disability Services Region serving the counties of Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Van Buren and Washington. The resolution restates certain provisions in the 28E agreement creating SEIL due to the legislation passed this year.

Seward said the most significant change has to do with the makeup of the agency's board of directors. Five new board members have been added including:

' One member who utilizes mental health and disability services or is an actively involved relative of such an individual;

' One member representing a mental health or disability service provider in the region;

' One member representing the education system in the region and

' One member who is the parent of a child who utilizes children's behavioral health services or who is an actively involved relative of such children.

Seward said the public should be aware that under the new structure there is an opportunity for nonelected individuals to have a seat at the decision-making table. He said if anyone is interested in serving on the board to 'give me a call.”

In other business, the supervisors:

' Approved the hiring of Jessica Haro-Ponce as a casual part-time parent educator in the public health department;

' Approved the official canvass of the September 10 Highland Community School District special election and

' Went into closed session to discuss the purchase of particular real estate where premature disclosure could reasonably be expected to increase the price the county would have to pay for the property.