Just like adults, children face complex mental health challenges.
Heart of Iowa can navigate children and families through the process of finding help to prevent future issues and lessen the impact of current struggles.
Through the Heart of Iowa Community Services (HICS) Child and Adolescent Program Navigator (CAPN), we work closely with parents, schools, law enforcement organizations and other community groups to support the children of Audubon, Dallas and Guthrie counties. Our staff can provide resources for individual or family therapy, substance abuse treatment, crisis stabilization, medication management and other community support.
Inside Out Wellness & Advocacy
To maximize our connections and support in the area to better help youth and their families, HICS has partnered with Inside Out Wellness & Advocacy. Inside Out’s highly trained staff provides a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Co-Responder Program and a Mobile Crisis Response Team for children while partnering with community members and local regions to offer services at no cost to people of all backgrounds.
Inside Out’s CIT Program partners mental health professionals and first responders to best identify, de-escalate and navigate a mental health crisis. With this approach, individuals in need are less likely to be sent to jail because they are evaluated and connected to services that assist them in moving forward with life. This program is active within the police jurisdictions of Urbandale, Waukee, Clive and West Des Moines.
The Mobile Crisis Response Team provides emergency crisis assessment and intervention services. By sending a trained mental health professional to meet you wherever you are, they can provide the appropriate crisis response in a familiar environment. The Mobile Crisis Response Team and CIT assists in referring children to appropriate services such as crisis stabilization with community partners.
Located in Woodward, Iowa, at the former Safe Harbor facility, Inside Out can be reached 24/7 by calling 844-428-3878. Visit InsideOutIowa.com for more information.
Resource referral and prevention
Developmental milestones, trauma and environmental stressors can all affect the mental health of children and teens. No matter the need, we can connect your child and family to programs and providers close to home that help resolve and prevent mental health issues.
Service coordination
Long-term mental health issues require coordinated care. We work alongside families as they require changes in services and navigate insurance processes. In some cases, we may provide funding.
Education
We partner with local schools and providers to ensure that children have access to therapists through their school districts. Additionally, HICS organizes hands-on educational opportunities within schools to teach children and teens about common mental health symptoms and struggles.
Interested in finding help for your child or teen? Want to organize an educational activity for your school? Heart of Iowa can help. Message us today.