As a helping heart for our communities, we share tips through our blog on managing mental health struggles and connecting with disability services.
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Any way you say it, HICS is committed to improving brain health.
For the past couple of years, Heart of Iowa Community Services (HICS), along with the rest of Iowa’s 14 Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS) Regions, have adopted the term brain health in efforts to reduce the stigmas associated with mental illness, brain health disease and brain illness. Now, the language suggestion has made its way to the Capital, where supporters say opening up the language and terminology allows for more preventative and earlier treatments of those Iowans with brain health issues.
03.16.2023
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Heart of Iowa onboards additional partners to CIT co-responder program in 2023.
In response to a growing need for mental health resources for law enforcement professionals, Heart of Iowa Community Services (HICS) has made plans to expand its innovative Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) co-responder program throughout the Dallas County and Des Moines metro region in 2023.
02.15.2023
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Telehealth expands therapy options for youth.
As the world acclimated to video calls via smartphones and computers, providers from all corners of the health care industry starting meeting with their patients online. Heart of Iowa Community Services (HICS) played a significant role in connecting residents of Audubon, Dallas and Guthrie counties with telehealth providers to meet their brain health (mental health) needs.
01.10.2023
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Finding alcohol dependency support through HICS
The October 2022 “Iowa’s Evolving Drug Trends” report showed that two years after the COVID-19 pandemic fueled extensive drinking nationwide, Iowans are still partaking in higher-than-average amounts of binge drinking in comparison to the rest of the country. Factor in holiday celebrations, and there can come a point when social drinking turns into something more serious: alcohol abuse.
12.14.2022
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Support and care for family caregivers is available.
Heart of Iowa Community Services (HICS) understands the responsibilities family caregivers face on a daily, ongoing basis and asks, Who is taking care of the caregiver? Research from the Administration for Community Living has indicated caregiving can take a toll on a person’s emotional, physical and financial health, especially for those ages 50 and older who are providing aid.
11.22.2022
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Making Halloween a treat for kids of all abilities.
Heart of Iowa Community Services believes that everyone in our community deserves a chance to thrive and feel welcome, especially our kids. Here’s how you can take steps to make Halloween an inclusive and positive experience for everyone, whether you’re hoping to make a memorable night for your child or looking to better accommodate visitors.
10.24.2022
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4 tips for children’s and teens’ brain health (mental health)
Most people will experience a short- or long-term brain health (mental health) challenge at some point in life, and children and teens are not immune. In fact, developmental milestones, trauma and environmental stressors unique to childhood and adolescence can make these age groups more at risk. Studies show that one in six kids ages 6 to 17 struggle with brain health conditions like anxiety, depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and more.
09.14.2022
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Brain Health Tips For Back-to-School
Heading back to the classroom can bring on anxiety for a vast number of students. Regardless of age, many kids feel overwhelmed, nervous or anxious about school. It is important to recognize these signs in your child so you can help them take control of their brain health and set them up for success this school year.
08.04.2022