Heart of Iowa prepares for closure, program member worries about future

ADEL, Iowa — As Heart of Iowa Community Services prepares for its closure in June, clients worry about future mental health and disability assistance availability.
In May 2024, Governor Reynolds signed HF 2673, which dissolves the Mental Health Disability Services program and incorporates it into the Iowa Behavioral Health and Disability Services program. In doing this, several programs, including Heart of Iowa Community Services, are being forced to close.
Established in 1999, Heart of Iowa Community Services has helped more than 16,000 people with care services across 13 counties. The organization offers jail alternatives, children's navigation, and created crisis programs including mobile crisis and transitional living programs.
Historic Des Moines streetcar building up for sale
At the end of February, Heart of Iowa released a statement saying they would work to make sure the individuals they serve gain access to other services.
HICS was founded on a passion to serve our community, and we are truly grateful to our employees and our partner providers. We have been blessed to touch many lives in our communities, and we are thankful for all of them. HICS will continue to provide the same high level of care to Iowans in our 13 counties through this transition. We are committed to working with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to ensure the transition is seamless.
Darci Alt, Heart of Iowa CEO
Tina has been assisted by Heart of Iowa for more than eight years and says the program has helped her gain control of her health and given her independence.
'It means a lot to me and that I have something I can count on, someone I can rely on, and somebody that I can talk out my problems with,' said Tina.
Tina says the announcement in February made her worried for her future.
'I fill empty, I feel really sad, I'm lost, and I know a lot of people feel the same way I do about this,' Tina said.
Tina doesn't know what programs will be available to her once Heart of Iowa closes and worries about her journey without the program.
Heart of Iowa's CEO says they are awaiting direction and assistance from HHS regarding how the transition for the people they serve is going to look. Heart of Iowa will remain operational till June 30, with the merger happening on July 1.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

USA Today

20 hours ago

• USA Today

These are the best – and cheapest – states for seniors living alone

More than one quarter of seniors live alone, according to Census data. And living solo can present financial perils for Americans of any age. A new report from the senior care platform ranks the best states for over-65 Americans who live alone. The report assigned a 1-10 score to each state, based on more than a dozen qualities, including overall living costs, housing costs, grocery costs, transportation costs, healthcare costs and availability, and the proximity of other seniors. 'Living alone can be a challenge for older people, from increased safety concerns to the toll on their mental health,' the report states. Here's what the analysis found. These neighboring states rank 1-2-3 for solo senior living Three middle-of-America states, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas, rank first, second and third for solo senior living in the report. Arkansas, with a rating of 8.57 out of 10, has one of the lowest cost-of-living scores in the nation, with affordable housing and low property taxes. It ranks high for affordable transportation and available nursing facilities. Missouri (8.09 out of 10) ranks high for health care affordability and quality. The state also ranks high on assisted living, with 97.5 communities per 100,000 senior residents. Kansas (7.98) ranks favorably for overall cost of living and has some of the nation's lowest grocery prices. It also has the second-highest proportion of nursing facilities, 62.7 per 100,000 seniors. Arkansas also ranks 1st in affordability for solo seniors Arkansas is not just the 'best' state for solo seniors, but also the most affordable, the analysis found. Arkansas has the lowest health care costs among states, as well as low grocery prices and affordable rents. A one-bedroom apartment averages $701 a month. Missouri ranks second for senior affordability, with low rents and transportation costs. Oklahoma ranks third in affordability. The analysis includes data from GOBankingRates, whose calculations found Oklahoma one of the most affordable states for retirees. Maine ranks 1st for highest proportion of seniors Seniors can face loneliness and isolation, especially when they live alone. But not, perhaps, in Maine. The state has the highest proportion of seniors, compared with other states: 22.9%, according to Missouri ranks 1st for cheap rent Seniors often live on fixed incomes. Lower housing costs can help make ends meet. Missouri has the nation's most affordable rents for one-bedroom apartments, with an average of $677 a month. Pro tip: St. Louis is more affordable than Kansas City, with rents averaging about $200 lower. Iowa ranks 1st for availability of nursing facilities With a relatively low over-65 population, Iowa ranks first among states for its proportion of nursing facilities, 71 per 100,000 seniors. More nursing facilities potentially means shorter wait times for Iowans who need nursing care. Alaska ranks 1st for availability of assisted living Alaska, too, has relatively few seniors. The state also has the highest proportion of assisted living communities, a whopping 698 per 100,000 over-65 residents. Missouri has the least expensive assisted living The costs of long-term care can be eye-popping. An assisted living facility charges $5,350 a month, on average, according to T. Rowe Price. Missouri has the lowest annual costs for assisted living, averaging just over $40,000, according to The state's low cost of living reduces operating costs for assisted living facilities. West Virginia ranks 1st on 'comfortable' retirement Getting back to GOBankingRates: The personal finance site analyzed every state for annual retirement costs and found West Virginia the most affordable in its 2024 report, with an annual tab of $58,190. The report factored into the ranking. What are the worst states for solo retirement living? While the report doesn't rank the least desirable states for seniors who live alone, the analysis provides a heat map that gives a good idea of which states a cost-conscious senior might want to avoid. Not surprisingly, the 'worst' and least affordable states for solo seniors tend to fall on the East and West coasts. California and Massachusetts have some of the lowest overall scores. The same states rank poorly on affordability. More on affordable states for retirees Seniors who are looking for a good place to retire may also want to consult GOBankingRates, whose analysts have run the numbers many times on affordable states for retirees. In one recent analysis, the site calculated how long a nest egg of $1.5 million would last for a retiree in every state. That report identified five most affordable states for retirees: West Virginia, where $1.5 million will last 54 years; Kansas (52 years); Mississippi (51 years); Oklahoma (also 51 years); and Alabama (50 years). California and Massachusetts ranked among the priciest states for retirees in the report, along with New York, Alaska and Hawaii.

Yahoo

6 days ago

• Yahoo

These Iowa City stores were visited by a child who later tested positive for measles

An eastern Iowa child has tested positive for measles and potentially exposed others in the Iowa City area, according to a state news release on June 11. This is Iowa's third measles case in 2025 and the second case reported in June. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services notified the public regarding the third case due to potential exposure in public areas. An investigation found that the third report is not related to the first two cases in Iowa, according to the HHS release. The child was exposed to the virus during international travel. Iowa Health and Human Services and local health officials have identified locations and times where the individual visited and might have resulted in public exposure. The locations and times of possible exposure include: Costco at 2900 Heartland Drive, Coralville - 11:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., June 4 Walmart at 919 Highway 1 W., Iowa City - 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., June 4 Marshalls at 1451 Coral Ridge Ave., Coralville - 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 5 'Measles is the most contagious disease, but it's also highly preventable,' said Dr. Robert Kruse, state medical director, in a news release. 'The MMR vaccine offers strong protection and helps stop the spread of illness. We encourage Iowans to check their vaccination records and take steps to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.' Iowa's other measles case in June was reported in an adult male in eastern Iowa, who was vaccinated. The state was still investigating whether he had recently traveled. The first case was an unvaccinated adult female who had recently traveled, HHS said. According to the Mayo Clinic, measles symptoms show up around one to two weeks after someone is in contact with the virus. Initial symptoms include: Fever (reaching up to 105 degrees) Dry cough Runny nose Red, watering eyes About two to three days after the first symptoms, tiny white spots (Koplik spots) might appear inside the infected person's mouth. Roughly three to five days after the first symptoms, a rash likely will appear, comprised of large, flat spots and small raised bumps starting on the face or neck and spreads down the body. Someone with measles can spread the virus four days before and after a rash appears. Measles spreads by breathing in the virus that travels on droplets after people cough or sneeze. It is less common to get measles from objects contaminated with infected droplets, according to Iowa HHS. People can spread measles for several days before getting a rash and several days after the rash develops. It is one of the most contagious infections known to exist, according to Iowa HHS. Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@ or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 3 Iowa City stores visited by a child who tested positive for measles

Yahoo

13-06-2025

• Yahoo

Governor's veto of bill on synthetic psilocybin drugs takes key lawmaker by surprise

Dried magic mushrooms with spore prints on tin foil. (Photo) A key lawmaker said he was surprised by Gov. Kim Reynolds' veto this week of a bill that would have allowed for the prescription and distribution of synthetic psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in 'magic mushrooms' following federal approval of the drug. Reynolds said the bill 'moves ahead' of public health systems, law enforcement and regulatory systems in the state. 'This decision is not a dismissal of the emerging science or the sincere advocacy behind this legislation,' Reynolds said in her explanation of the veto. 'Rather, it is a call for a more deliberate and Iowa-centric approach.' House File 383 was one of two bills from the Iowa House this year that sought to legalize the use of psychedelics as a treatment for mental health issues, like post-traumatic stress disorder. The bill's floor manager, Rep. Brett Barker, R-Nevada, said the veto from the governor was 'unexpected' considering the bill passed with unanimous consent in both chambers. 'I look forward to having a conversation with the Governor to learn more about her concerns regarding the bill,' Barker said in an email. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The other bill, House File 978, would have created a psilocybin licensing board in Iowa, and similar to the state's medical marijuana program, would have allowed eligible patients access to the drug while it is still federally classified as Schedule I substance. The bill advanced from the House but was not heard in the Senate. HF 383, the bill put before the governor, would have immediately rescheduled any drugs containing crystalline polymorph psilocybin, the synthetic version of the compound, if they were approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Under the bill and conditioned circumstances, it would be legal to prescribe, distribute and market drugs with the ingredient, which is also sometimes referred to as COMP360. Clinical trials of COMP360 as a treatment for PTSD and treatment resistant depression have been conducted and are ongoing. A similar bill was signed into law in Colorado in March. Colorado and Oregon are the only states with legalized medical licensing programs for psilocybin. Reynolds said she does 'recognize and respect the growing body of research into the potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin' but she said the compound should be approved by FDA and the Drug Enforcement Agency before Iowa acts to reschedule. 'The pathway provided by this bill for legalization of psilocybin at the state level before we have a chance to review federal action … creates legal uncertainty, poses risks for misuse and could undermine broader efforts to ensure safe and effective therapeutic use in the future,' Reynolds said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE