Leslie Carpenter, whose son suffers from severe mental illness, realized that Iowa didn’t have adequate resources to meet his son’s needs, so she decided to take matters into her own hands.
According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, Iowa ranks 51st among all U.S. states and territories for having fewer psychiatric beds. As of 2023, Iowa has 64 inpatient beds, which equates to two beds per 100,000 patients in need.
Tired of losing support for her son, Carpenter founded Iowa’s first civil mental health court. Courts provide services to assist individuals receiving outpatient mental health treatment by providing long-term resources to help them return to daily life.
One year after its establishment, the court has had 30 patients referred to the program and 12 participants.
Mr Crane said the court’s two-year pilot program will officially begin in May 2023 and is reaching the end of its first year with two full-time staff members.
The program will include courtroom trials and meetings with participants at the Johnson County Health and Human Services Building.
Carpenter said she left her full-time career as a physical therapist in 2019 to help transform Iowa’s mental health system.
As of 2022, there will be more than 650 mental health courts in the United States, according to the National Treatment Course Research Center.
Klein said the program will last between nine and 13 months, depending on the participants’ ongoing needs.
The program’s resources include connecting individuals with Medicaid, integrated health services, financial and mental health services. Iowa offers mental health resource organizations such as Heart of Iowa Community Services, Your Life Iowa Resource Center, and NAMI Iowa.
Each of these resources offers a variety of mental health services, including 24/7 contact points, support groups, advocates, and recovery treatment plans.
But Carpenter said it’s difficult for patients with severe mental illness to keep up to date on needed medications, court dates and other requirements after the patient is discharged from the hospital.
Crane said participants must be at least 18 years old, have a mandatory order in Johnson County and be diagnosed with a severe mental illness. Court programs provide more than just mental health resources.
The program, in partnership with Iowa City Shelter House and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, helps provide a wide range of non-mental resources to people experiencing homelessness and physical health issues .
“We can also help with daily errands that need to be completed. We have been assisting participants with finding housing,” Crain said. “Right now, we can do pretty much everything we need to do. But the goal is to be able to provide long-term service.”
East Central Regional Mental Health and Disability Services is funding the two-year pilot program at $200,000 annually.
Crane said many of the program’s participants have experienced homelessness and don’t have access to many necessary documents, such as identification.
“We’re seeing a lot of issues, not just housing insecurity, but economic struggles, mental health struggles, substance abuse,” Crain said. “Securing long-term housing for ordinary people, some of whom come from somewhat disadvantaged backgrounds, can be very difficult. So we actually work with a lot of homeless people. We are collaborating with them.”
During a work session with the Johnson County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, Crain and Assistant County Attorney Lynn Rose announced the program’s successes over the past year.
Rose said she was surprised to see the lack of care and resources participants had before joining the program.
Supervisor Royan Porter praised the successful implementation of the program. Porter said it’s important to build connections with people suffering from mental illness to get them the help they need.
related: A deeper look at Governor Reynolds of Iowa.Proposed mental health system recalibration
Carpenter said she plans to spend the rest of her life fighting to spread awareness about mental health and providing resources for people dealing with severe mental illness.
“These severe mental illnesses are unique. If your child gets cancer, everyone rushes to support you, including the treatment system,” Carpenter said. “Severe mental illness often leaves our loved ones blocked under HIPAA. Families lack the resources, knowledge, and ability to know how to help their loved one remain in care. It’s too lacking.”
Through tears, Carpenter said that while the program may never work for her son, she started fighting to make sure others get mental health resources as soon as possible. Carpenter said the process can be frustrating, but it’s worth it to save lives.
