Polk County Health Services

POLK COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES INC. IMPROVES THE WELLBEING AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CITIZENS OF POLK COUNTY, PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUALS WITH BRAIN HEALTH CONCERNS SUCH AS MENTAL ILLNESS, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS; AND THEIR FAMILIES. THROUGH COLLABORATION AND VISIONARY LEADERSHIP, PCHS PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE ACCESS TO SERVICES, ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION THAT EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FOR BETTER WELLBEING AND QUALITY OF LIFE ACROSS THEIR LIFESPAN.

PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF REGIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM AND SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN POLK COUNTY WITH BRAIN HEALTH CONCERNS AND CONDITIONS SUCH AS MENTAL ILLNESS, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. THE ORGANIZATION OVERSEES CONTRACTS WITH 27 ORGANIZATIONS WHICH SERVE APPROXIMATELY 3,785 CHILDREN AND ADULTS EACH YEAR. THROUGH COLLABORATION AND VISIONARY LEADERSHIP PCHS PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE ACCESS TO SERVICES, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION WHICH EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FOR BETTER WELL-BEING AND QUALITY OF LIFE ACROSS THEIR LIFESPAN. . THROUGH PCHS' SUPPORT, 9 OUT OF 10 ADULTS HAD SAFE & AFFORDABLE HOUSING, 1% OF THOSE USING MOBILE CRISIS SERVICES WENT TO JAIL, 3 OUT OF 10 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES UTILIZED COUNTY-FUNDED EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO HELP THEM OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT, 93% OF THOSE USING ONGOING SERVICES AVOIDED JAIL, 98% AVOIDED HOMELESSNESS AND 94% AVOIDED PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION. PCHS RECOGNIZES THAT A LACK OF ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS CONTRIBUTES TO SCHOOL DROP-OUT, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND INVOLVEMENT WITH THE JUVENILE OR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION TO LOSS OF SHORT-AND LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITIES, THERE IS ALSO LOSS OF LIFE WITH SUICIDE AS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR THOSE AGES 10-24. PCHS DIRECTLY PROVIDES FINANCING FOR CHILDREN MEETING SPECIFIC FINANCIAL CRITERIA AND ADDITIONALLY INVESTS IN CRUCIAL AREAS OF IDENTIFYING EARLY SIGNS AND PROVIDING APPROPRIATE SUPPORTS AND SERVICES TO IMPROVE CHILDREN'S LIVES, MITIGATE WORSENING SYMPTOMS AND IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH IN THE FUTURE FOR THOSE IDENTIFIED TO BE AT RISK. PCHS SERVES THE COMMUNITY THROUGH COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH CHILDREN'S PROVIDERS, SCHOOL SYSTEMS, JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS INVESTED IN CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS NEGATIVE OUTCOMES, FROM BULLYING TO ABSENTEEISM TO DEPRESSION, IMPROVE POSITIVE OUTCOMES SUCH AS INCREASED CONNECTION AMONG FAMILIES, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDE PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES NOW AND HAVE EFFECTS THAT CAN LAST FOR DECADES.PCHS PROVIDED ADDITIONAL SIGNIFICANT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND COVID RESPONSE THROUGH CARES ACT SUPPORT.

GROUP HOME SERVICES TO PURCHASE, FURNISH, RENOVATE AND REPAIR 75 GROUP HOMES, MAINTAIN & LEASE GROUP HOMES TO AGENCIES FOR HOUSING PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. PCHS OWNED HOMES PROVIDE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR APPROXIMATELY 280 INDIVIDUALS.PCHS RECEIVED NONCASH CAPITAL GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PRIMARY GOVERNMENT FOR THE TOTAL RENOVATIONS AND UPGRADES OF THREE OF THE LARGER PCHS OWNED GROUP HOMES TRANSITIONING TO ACCREDITED 24-HOUR FACILITIES TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH COMPLEX NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO DIVERT EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, INPATIENT HOSPITALIZATIONS AND JAIL DAYS.

DECATEGORIZATION/RESTORATIVE JUSTICE/CULTURAL EQUALITY PROJECTS TO ADMINISTER GRANTS WHICH: TAILOR SERVICES TO THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN & FAMILIES; REDIRECT FUNDING TOWARD PREVENTIVE, FAMILY, NEIGHBORHOOD & COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES; PROMOTE COMMUNITY PLANNING, COLLABORATION & GOVERNANCE OF SERVICE SYSTEMS; DEVELOP CULTURALLY & LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICE SYSTEMS THAT MORE ACCURATELY REFLECT THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN & FAMILIES; ENGAGE MINORITY YOUTH & FAMILIES THROUGH EDUCATION/OUTREACH; MOTIVATE STUDENTS TO ACADEMIC & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT & ACHIEVEMENT; PROVIDE INTERVENTION/STRATEGIES FOR FAMILIES IN THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM; AND PROVIDE VICTIM OUTREACH, MEDIATION & OTHER REPARATIVE JUSTICE & CULTURAL EQUITY SERVICES FOR MINORITY YOUTH AND FAMILIES.

LEAD AGENCY/INTEGRATED SERVICES, C3 DE-ESCALATION PROGRAM, INFANT & EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH (GRANT, PCHS SERVES AS A FISCAL AGENT)