The Greene County supervisors received a tutorial on the state’s new unified Behavioral Health System at their May 4 meeting. The new system, which launched July 1, 2025, seeks to combine mental health and substance use services to streamline access and ensure consistent care across the state.
Iowa Primary Care Association was selected to administer the program. Iowa PCA was founded as a non-profit association in 1988. Members include 14 community health centers across the state with an ongoing commitment to expanding access to quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare to meet local needs.
Under the new plan, Iowa is divided into seven behavioral health districts. Greene County is in District 5, along with Hamilton, Boone, Story, Dallas, Polk, Jasper, Madison, Warren, Marion, Clarke, Lucas, Decatur and Wayne counties. Betsy Stursma, District 5 leader, presented information to the supervisors. She was accompanied by service navigator Bridget Skalla, who will have direct contact with Greene County residents seeking services.
Skalla’s job is to provide information, education and guidance; to assist persons in completing applications for services; to identify options to overcome barriers to access; to provide support during transitions between service providers; and to provide referrals and “warm handoffs” to appropriate providers and long-term services.
A service navigator does not provide treatment, medication, counseling or crisis intervention, but helps persons find them.
Your Life Iowa is the initial entry into the system. It can be accessed by phone at 855-581-8111; by text message at 855-895-8398; or by an online chat at www.yourlifeiowa.org.
Stursma explained that navigators are trained to understand Iowa’s behavioral health system and to help people locate the assistance they need. Navigator services are free, with very few eligibility requirements and no insurance requirements. System navigation is designed for rural areas, bridging gaps in care to ensure access regardless of geographic location.
More information is on the Iowa Primary Care Association website at www.iowapca.org. In other business, the supervisors appointed Dustin Teays, Alexis Stevens and Shane Olson to the Greene County veterans affairs commission, and discussed wording recognizing the efforts of current Greene County High School students in immortalizing the sacrifices of the Schoolboy Soldiers of Rippey. The supervisors are expected to give final approval for the large monuments to the Schoolboy Soldiers at their May 11 meeting.
