Crisis Stabilization Program Nationally Recognized

Polk County Iowa along with Easterseals Iowa was nationally featured in the Messaging to Support a Behavioral Health Continuum of Care Report. Developed in partnership with the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD), the National Association of Counties (NACo) recently published a messaging brief for Intellectual and Developmental Disability (I/DD) Directors highlighting different strategies to advance behavioral health care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.Easterseals Iowa was included as one of several select examples of success stories and innovative examples from across the country!

 Excerpt:
“POLK COUNTY, IA (POPULATION: 492,401) In 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice released an investigative report regarding treatment of residents with I/DD in Iowa’s state-run institutional centers that concluded bias and lack of integration in community-based crisis services for people with I/DD. To address this need, Polk County contracted with Easterseals Iowa to implement a crisis stabilization program designed to serve these individuals. Easterseals’ residential and community-based programs help bridge I/DD care by offering support services to adults and children, both during and following crises.”

See the full report and additional sources here:  Messaging to Support A behavioral Health Continuum of Care Report