morning and I'd like to welcome everyone to the Iowa Behavioral Health Association. I want to thank executive director florist Mitt Ah and her team for hosting us here today. I understand you have some board members that air with us also, you know, in recent years we've made wide ranging improvements to our state's mental health system, and I'm extremely grateful for the support of those who have shared their stories and added their voices to the ongoing mental health conversation. Organizations like I Will Behavioral Health Association, youth and Shelter Services and a great bipartisan coalition of legislators all working together have passed comprehensive adult mental health reform and landmark legislation that established ah, first of its kind Children's mental health system, all providing ah full array of mental health services available toe Iowans win and where they need it most, which has proven invaluable as we've dealt with the Corona virus in this pandemic, Cove in 19 has been a challenging time for all of us, and it's underscored the importance of our mental health infrastructure and access from health kill work. Health care workers on the frontline of the cove in 19 response to families dealing with the new reality of working in teaching their kids at home to the Children who have missed the opportunity to interact with their friends and teachers each day. To the small business owners who having to furlough employees and see her own life's work, become less viable each day to the recent high school or college graduates, finding their future delayed and struggling to stay connected in a world of social distance. E. With these kinds of disruptions in our lives and livelihoods, it's important for Iowans to be mindful of their mental health and to know that there's a place to go if they need help. The last several months also have made it more tempting to turn to be haters that might distract us from the anxiety and the stressors, from online gambling to increased substance abuse or alcohol consumption. Again, it's critical there's a place to turn when we need help getting back to making healthy decisions for ourselves and our families, and that's why we're making meaningful investments in mental health services. As part of our state's response to Cove in 19 our mental health providers have really stepped up to the plate to deal with increased demand and the need to accelerate plans for telehealth bringing critical mental health services online literally online, due in part to changes made by Medicaid, including an additional $5 million investment in telehealth. So today I'm announcing that we will be allocating more than $50 million of cares funding Toe I was mental health systems. $30 million will be directed to the mental health regions to support ongoing adult and Children's mental health services and to help cover the increased needs that have resulted from the pandemic. We're also allocating $20 million to mental health substance abuse providers to cover to mental health and substance abuse providers to cover increased costs during this pandemic. This is in addition to previous provider relief dollars that the federal government has provided for both Charki and Independence, mental health institutions as well as hospitals and private practitioners. We also have received nearly $1 million from FEMA that was director to the Department of Human Services to provide crisis counseling services to those impacted by Kobe, 19 In Iowa. We take obstacles and we turn them into opportunities. We we don't want to just weather the storm of covert 19. We want to help our system innovate and adapt to the challenges the future holds. So now it's my pleasure to turn the podium over to Department of Human Services director Kelly Garcia, and she's gonna give you a little bit more details. Good morning. Thank you, Governor. Thank you for having me here today and thank you for your leadership on this incredibly important issue. While we've been working to make progress prior to Cove in 19 on our mental health delivery system in Iowa Kobe, it has changed so much of our landscape and we must continue to move forward first. I want to acknowledge the important role our providers have played in our states pandemic response and the additional responsibilities they've taken on. This is translated to an immediate need for additional supports for so many of our providers whose work is incredibly important to the state. And there's no shortage of examples of our providers really stepping up to care for Iowans most vulnerable. This has been so challenging with day, huh? Billet ation being closed. This is meant increased demands placed on our home and community based service providers. Those who serve some of our most complex Iowans. And now these providers air having to navigate new challenges of how to balance everyday life and well being while protecting their clients. Health. There have also been increased demands on nursing facilities, and there needs around additional staffing and medications support. And, of course, a huge part of this effort has included focusing on mental health services for those complex populations, as well as mental health services for all Iowans. The federal government and DHS have pushed significant amounts of dollars into the system to address these needs. Direct mental health funding in Iowa and response to Cove in 19 includes an estimated $10 million of Cara's Act funds for mental health Productive providers an estimated $10 million of Cara's Act funds for a substance use disorder providers. Through Medicaid, we've paid out more than $2.5 million in retainer payments to her ability, ation and home in community based service providers. Nursing facilities Air now able to build for an enhanced rate of an additional $300 per day for Kobe, 19 positive patients. Additionally, we received as the governor mentioned nearly $1 million from FEMA to provide crisis counseling to those impacted by Cove in 19 in Iowa. And this was not care Zach dollars, but rather paid for by FEMA, and we've recently requested an additional $4 million to enhance this support. Medicaid has also significantly expanded telehealth. It's the governor mentioned in May, Iowa. Medicaid spent $9.2 million Maurin Telehealth and we did February just prior to the outbreak. Though not all is for mental health. A large portion is the governor mentioned around $5 million that is significant. We're also seeing patients keep their appointments at greater rates than ever on. I always try to look for bright spots in the middle of this pandemic, and telehealth really has been one of those bright spots. So this is something that we're looking to continue with our federal partners approval, a zoo. We build our system longer term. All of this to say we're paying attention. We're trying to target our efforts, and there is help for those in need. Prior to co vid, we would often talk about the need to end stigma around mental health, and now I find myself engaged in a similar conversation when those test positive for Cove in 19 or for providers or establishments with covert positive patients. This, too, is not productive. We need Iowans to be open to share when they feel ill or test positive so we can mitigate the spread on. Those who were in need of mental health services Know that help is available. You can access assistance and free counseling at Covad Recovery Iowa dot org's. Of course, I'm always grateful to our incredible team at DHS, and I thank you, Governor, for the additional investment and your support in these efforts. Thank you, Kelly. Also with me today is Andrew Allen, who is the president and CEO of Youth and Shelter Services, to share his perspective about how additional funding will help impact the young life's his organization. Serves. Thank you, Governor. Wow. Did you say $50 million that that's a big number? And I want to thank you personally. I want to thank you because that's what it's going to take in order to start addressing the behavioral health needs that our states going through during this pandemic. A year ago, as a member of the Children's System State Board, I was with the governor, she signed legislation creating Iowa's first Children's behavioral health system to address the mental health and substance use disorder needs of Iowa's youth. I heard her say that day next we work on the funding, and while we could not have predicted the pandemic or the legislative session or the Cares Act, this funding could not have come at a more critical time for our state. As mentioned, I'm Andrew Allen and the president CEO of I S s based in Ames, providing services in the areas of prevention, treatment, child welfare and transitional services to more than 20,000 youth and families statewide each year. And while I'm currently the CEO of Y Assess, I'm actually an alumnus of Y S s services. 25 years ago today, I was celebrating my 18th birthday in Y S s is Adolescent Addiction Treatment Program, a program that saved my life. And I served more than 5000 youth from across the state since its inception after being arrested for felonies at 10 expelled from school, diagnosed a sociopath y assess provided treatment, help me find God, gave me new life skills and set me on the path for long term recovery. So for me, this is personal, and I know that treatment works and that recovery is possible. Mental illness, Substance use disorder do not discriminate. The National Institute of Mental Health shows 49.5% of adolescents one and two will have a mental health illness. One in six of us will have a substance use disorder, and 90% of those will start before their 18th birthday. So look around, all of us will be impacted, if not directly by one degree of separation. Yet as director, Garcia said, the stigma still exists. People are afraid to talk about their struggles and that of their family. I see it in my own community when kids start secluding themselves and not talking or acting out in the police get called. Oftentimes, instead of asking for help, families or embarrassed, they feel judged and they don't seek treatment, instead suffering alone. On average, the delay between onset of symptoms and mental health of mental health and someone seeking treatment is 11 years, 11 years living with a diagnosable and treatable illness before even seeking treatment. And today, because of the pandemic and isolation, the trauma that kids air facing is increasing, and for many it's happening behind closed doors. The uncertainty that families air experiences, creating increased levels of stress and anxiety and depression. And, as has been reported suicides are up across the board. Kids and families need help, and this funding for the mental health regions and the providers like y Assess could not have come at a more critical time to help address the need. Why SS is one of just 29 member agencies of the I Will Behavior Health Association working to create better behavioral health through education, prevention, treatment and advocacy. At the start of the pandemic, a social distancing distancing took hold as Kelly mentioned, each of these agencies stood up telehealth counseling therapy services in short order why SS was working with a young man early in his recovery from meth addiction, who became extremely isolated because of the pandemic. We saw symptoms of anxiety, depression worsen, and we knew it was at high risk for relapse. Telehealth therapy was a lifesaver, giving him direct and regular access to a licensed clinician toe work through our new normal, and by late April, I'm happy to report he was showing significant improvement and proactively managing his health. Many providers also continue to provide inpatient residential treatment as well, with license and increased protocol. Toe limit The spread of Cove in 19 Just last month, I was talking to a father whose son was completed, our residential impatient Dream, a program in Mason City. The same program The governor helped us cut the ribbon on and open two years ago as he thanked the staff, he turned to me and he said, You may have just saved my son's life Treatment works, guys and recovery is possible. So on behalf of the providers that deliver the treatment and the mental health regions that helped coordinate and fund services, I thank you on behalf of the families and the kids that will benefit. I thank you. And for every individual or family or a young person who is struggling with depression or anxiety or addiction, this is not your fault. And you are not alone. I've been there, don't wait 11 years. Treatment is available today and it works and recovery is possible. I'm living proof. Thank you, Governor Reynolds forward to helping to advocate for permanent and stable funding for the system alongside you and Director Garcia over the next year. You said 50 million, right? Thank you, Andrew. I appreciate that very much. And I appreciate you sharing your personal story, and this is personal for me as well. I share a very similar story, so thank you. morning and I'd like to welcome everyone to the Iowa Behavioral Health Association. I want to thank executive director florist Mitt Ah and her team for hosting us here today. I understand you have some board members that air with us also, you know, in recent years we've made wide ranging improvements to our state's mental health system, and I'm extremely grateful for the support of those who have shared their stories and added their voices to the ongoing mental health conversation. Organizations like I Will Behavioral Health Association, youth and Shelter Services and a great bipartisan coalition of legislators all working together have passed comprehensive adult mental health reform and landmark legislation that established ah, first of its kind Children's mental health system, all providing ah full array of mental health services available toe Iowans win and where they need it most, which has proven invaluable as we've dealt with the Corona virus in this pandemic, Cove in 19 has been a challenging time for all of us, and it's underscored the importance of our mental health infrastructure and access from health kill work. Health care workers on the frontline of the cove in 19 response to families dealing with the new reality of working in teaching their kids at home to the Children who have missed the opportunity to interact with their friends and teachers each day. To the small business owners who having to furlough employees and see her own life's work, become less viable each day to the recent high school or college graduates, finding their future delayed and struggling to stay connected in a world of social distance. E. With these kinds of disruptions in our lives and livelihoods, it's important for Iowans to be mindful of their mental health and to know that there's a place to go if they need help. The last several months also have made it more tempting to turn to be haters that might distract us from the anxiety and the stressors, from online gambling to increased substance abuse or alcohol consumption. Again, it's critical there's a place to turn when we need help getting back to making healthy decisions for ourselves and our families, and that's why we're making meaningful investments in mental health services. As part of our state's response to Cove in 19 our mental health providers have really stepped up to the plate to deal with increased demand and the need to accelerate plans for telehealth bringing critical mental health services online literally online, due in part to changes made by Medicaid, including an additional $5 million investment in telehealth. So today I'm announcing that we will be allocating more than $50 million of cares funding Toe I was mental health systems. $30 million will be directed to the mental health regions to support ongoing adult and Children's mental health services and to help cover the increased needs that have resulted from the pandemic. We're also allocating $20 million to mental health substance abuse providers to cover to mental health and substance abuse providers to cover increased costs during this pandemic. This is in addition to previous provider relief dollars that the federal government has provided for both Charki and Independence, mental health institutions as well as hospitals and private practitioners. We also have received nearly $1 million from FEMA that was director to the Department of Human Services to provide crisis counseling services to those impacted by Kobe, 19 In Iowa. We take obstacles and we turn them into opportunities. We we don't want to just weather the storm of covert 19. We want to help our system innovate and adapt to the challenges the future holds. So now it's my pleasure to turn the podium over to Department of Human Services director Kelly Garcia, and she's gonna give you a little bit more details. Good morning. Thank you, Governor. Thank you for having me here today and thank you for your leadership on this incredibly important issue. While we've been working to make progress prior to Cove in 19 on our mental health delivery system in Iowa Kobe, it has changed so much of our landscape and we must continue to move forward first. I want to acknowledge the important role our providers have played in our states pandemic response and the additional responsibilities they've taken on. This is translated to an immediate need for additional supports for so many of our providers whose work is incredibly important to the state. And there's no shortage of examples of our providers really stepping up to care for Iowans most vulnerable. This has been so challenging with day, huh? Billet ation being closed. This is meant increased demands placed on our home and community based service providers. Those who serve some of our most complex Iowans. And now these providers air having to navigate new challenges of how to balance everyday life and well being while protecting their clients. Health. There have also been increased demands on nursing facilities, and there needs around additional staffing and medications support. And, of course, a huge part of this effort has included focusing on mental health services for those complex populations, as well as mental health services for all Iowans. The federal government and DHS have pushed significant amounts of dollars into the system to address these needs. Direct mental health funding in Iowa and response to Cove in 19 includes an estimated $10 million of Cara's Act funds for mental health Productive providers an estimated $10 million of Cara's Act funds for a substance use disorder providers. Through Medicaid, we've paid out more than $2.5 million in retainer payments to her ability, ation and home in community based service providers. Nursing facilities Air now able to build for an enhanced rate of an additional $300 per day for Kobe, 19 positive patients. Additionally, we received as the governor mentioned nearly $1 million from FEMA to provide crisis counseling to those impacted by Cove in 19 in Iowa. And this was not care Zach dollars, but rather paid for by FEMA, and we've recently requested an additional $4 million to enhance this support. Medicaid has also significantly expanded telehealth. It's the governor mentioned in May, Iowa. Medicaid spent $9.2 million Maurin Telehealth and we did February just prior to the outbreak. Though not all is for mental health. A large portion is the governor mentioned around $5 million that is significant. We're also seeing patients keep their appointments at greater rates than ever on. I always try to look for bright spots in the middle of this pandemic, and telehealth really has been one of those bright spots. So this is something that we're looking to continue with our federal partners approval, a zoo. We build our system longer term. All of this to say we're paying attention. We're trying to target our efforts, and there is help for those in need. Prior to co vid, we would often talk about the need to end stigma around mental health, and now I find myself engaged in a similar conversation when those test positive for Cove in 19 or for providers or establishments with covert positive patients. This, too, is not productive. We need Iowans to be open to share when they feel ill or test positive so we can mitigate the spread on. Those who were in need of mental health services Know that help is available. You can access assistance and free counseling at Covad Recovery Iowa dot org's. Of course, I'm always grateful to our incredible team at DHS, and I thank you, Governor, for the additional investment and your support in these efforts. Thank you, Kelly. Also with me today is Andrew Allen, who is the president and CEO of Youth and Shelter Services, to share his perspective about how additional funding will help impact the young life's his organization. Serves. Thank you, Governor. Wow. Did you say $50 million that that's a big number? And I want to thank you personally. I want to thank you because that's what it's going to take in order to start addressing the behavioral health needs that our states going through during this pandemic. A year ago, as a member of the Children's System State Board, I was with the governor, she signed legislation creating Iowa's first Children's behavioral health system to address the mental health and substance use disorder needs of Iowa's youth. I heard her say that day next we work on the funding, and while we could not have predicted the pandemic or the legislative session or the Cares Act, this funding could not have come at a more critical time for our state. As mentioned, I'm Andrew Allen and the president CEO of I S s based in Ames, providing services in the areas of prevention, treatment, child welfare and transitional services to more than 20,000 youth and families statewide each year. And while I'm currently the CEO of Y Assess, I'm actually an alumnus of Y S s services. 25 years ago today, I was celebrating my 18th birthday in Y S s is Adolescent Addiction Treatment Program, a program that saved my life. And I served more than 5000 youth from across the state since its inception after being arrested for felonies at 10 expelled from school, diagnosed a sociopath y assess provided treatment, help me find God, gave me new life skills and set me on the path for long term recovery. So for me, this is personal, and I know that treatment works and that recovery is possible. Mental illness, Substance use disorder do not discriminate. The National Institute of Mental Health shows 49.5% of adolescents one and two will have a mental health illness. One in six of us will have a substance use disorder, and 90% of those will start before their 18th birthday. So look around, all of us will be impacted, if not directly by one degree of separation. Yet as director, Garcia said, the stigma still exists. People are afraid to talk about their struggles and that of their family. I see it in my own community when kids start secluding themselves and not talking or acting out in the police get called. Oftentimes, instead of asking for help, families or embarrassed, they feel judged and they don't seek treatment, instead suffering alone. On average, the delay between onset of symptoms and mental health of mental health and someone seeking treatment is 11 years, 11 years living with a diagnosable and treatable illness before even seeking treatment. And today, because of the pandemic and isolation, the trauma that kids air facing is increasing, and for many it's happening behind closed doors. The uncertainty that families air experiences, creating increased levels of stress and anxiety and depression. And, as has been reported suicides are up across the board. Kids and families need help, and this funding for the mental health regions and the providers like y Assess could not have come at a more critical time to help address the need. Why SS is one of just 29 member agencies of the I Will Behavior Health Association working to create better behavioral health through education, prevention, treatment and advocacy. At the start of the pandemic, a social distancing distancing took hold as Kelly mentioned, each of these agencies stood up telehealth counseling therapy services in short order why SS was working with a young man early in his recovery from meth addiction, who became extremely isolated because of the pandemic. We saw symptoms of anxiety, depression worsen, and we knew it was at high risk for relapse. Telehealth therapy was a lifesaver, giving him direct and regular access to a licensed clinician toe work through our new normal, and by late April, I'm happy to report he was showing significant improvement and proactively managing his health. Many providers also continue to provide inpatient residential treatment as well, with license and increased protocol. Toe limit The spread of Cove in 19 Just last month, I was talking to a father whose son was completed, our residential impatient Dream, a program in Mason City. The same program The governor helped us cut the ribbon on and open two years ago as he thanked the staff, he turned to me and he said, You may have just saved my son's life Treatment works, guys and recovery is possible. So on behalf of the providers that deliver the treatment and the mental health regions that helped coordinate and fund services, I thank you on behalf of the families and the kids that will benefit. I thank you. And for every individual or family or a young person who is struggling with depression or anxiety or addiction, this is not your fault. And you are not alone. I've been there, don't wait 11 years. Treatment is available today and it works and recovery is possible. I'm living proof. Thank you, Governor Reynolds forward to helping to advocate for permanent and stable funding for the system alongside you and Director Garcia over the next year. You said 50 million, right? Thank you, Andrew. I appreciate that very much. And I appreciate you sharing your personal story, and this is personal for me as well. I share a very similar story, so thank you.