DES MOINES – Today, Gov. Reynolds signed HF690, a bill that creates and funds the first of its kind comprehensive Children’s Mental Health System.
Watch the bill signing on Facebook here.
“Today, I signed a life-changing bill that helps lift the veil of stigma associated with mental illness and replaces it with hope, healing and comfort of community,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Iowa now has a first-of-its-kind children’s mental health system. This was, and continues to be, a top priority of mine to help the well-being of our young people for generations to come.”
The legislation follows the priorities in a Strategic Plan submitted to the Governor and General Assembly by the Children’s Behavioral Health System State Board (State Board) and codifies the State Board which was established by Governor Reynolds’ Executive Order 2 in 2018.
This legislation also establishes required core services for children, regional crisis stabilization, mobile response teams, 24-hour hotline access to services, and $1.2 million for home and community-based children’s mental health services to eliminate the waiting list that currently exists.
The bill passed with strong bipartisan support earlier this year. There was a 83-14 vote in the Iowa House and 46-2 in the Iowa Senate.