Beginning July 1st, Iowa’s behavioral health services will be changing. The new system will be revamping the state’s 11 regions into 7 districts, with an average of 14 counties in each district, and each district will have a disability access point to connect Iowans with the disability services they need.
Locally CICS, which will now stand for Collaborative Individual and Community Support, is gearing up for the new system. CICS CEO Russell Wood gave an update Monday to the Franklin County Board of Supervisors, and was asked if the state will be ready.
“And we continue to have a lot of discussion with them and with my colleagues. And the bottom line is we are going to be ready. It may be a little adjustment or fluid as things go on, but CICS will ensure that all of our clients get the care coordination and get what they need. The state has a six month transition period, which means if you’re getting services on July 1, June 30, technically, then they’re not going to make you stop. Even if the new policies say you shouldn’t get those services, which will help as we transition more into it. And our goal and our role is to get people up and on board so that we can work with clients and help clients adjust.”
Wood also had this to say.
“We’ve always been in a leadership position where the state says do something, we’re at the table building it. And we’ve never not been successful. And it’s different, it’s not what we asked for. But we’ll make it work and we’ll continue to serve people and that’s what we do.”
For more information go to cicsmhds.org.
