MHDS Staff Support to Commissions, Workgroups, and Councils (MHDS)

2018

The Iowa Department of Human Services contracts with CDD to provide technical assistance and staff support to three statewide advisory groups: the Iowa Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS) Commission, the Mental Health Planning Council, and the Olmstead Consumer Taskforce. Staff support to the includes policy analysis, research, meeting coordination, support to committees and workgroups, and assistance preparing written comments and reports. CDD also provides support to ad hoc workgroups and other projects focused on mental health and disability services as the need arises. The MHDS Commission is the state policy-making body for the provision of services to persons with mental illness, intellectual disabilities or other developmental disabilities, or brain injury. The Mental Health Planning Council is a state advisory body authorized by federal law and required as a condition for the receipt of federal Community Mental Health Services Block Grant funding.The Iowa Olmstead Consumer is a consumer-centered advocacy group created by Executive Order 27 in 2001 to monitor the states response to the Olmstead decision and provide feedback and guidance to state agencies on community integration. In FY 17 CDD also staffed two workgroups, one to address individuals with complex service needs mandated by the legislature in 2017, and one to address the mental health needs of children, mandated by the legislature in 2016 but whose members chose to convene indefinitely to ensure continued focus on the issue.

Developing & Disseminating Information

Quality Assurance, Health-Related Activities, Employment-Related Activities, Housing-Related Activities, Transportation-Related Activities

Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, Legislators/Policy Makers, General Public

Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote

State

N/A