AXIOS | 1 big thing: The metro’s newest mental health clinic
May 1, 2024 by Jason Clayworth | Full story
Community Support Advocates (CSA) has opened a new youth mental health therapy clinic and plans to double the size of its headquarters through a new West Des Moines site this summer.
Why it matters: Mental health care shortages have left hundreds of children on waiting lists in the metro — some for more than a year.
- CSA’s new clinic focuses on youth mental health therapy because it has become increasingly difficult for families to access, CEO Christina Smith tells Axios.
Catch up fast: The nonprofit helps more than 2,000 people with disabilities of all ages in Polk, Dallas, Warren, Story and Jasper counties.
- Its focus for decades has been on better integrating these residents into the community through living, employment, educational and recreation assistance.
The big picture: CSA recently launched a $2.5 million capital campaign to purchase the new WDM headquarters, which is roughly twice the size of its longtime leased location in the Merle Hay area.
- Owning instead of renting will allow the group to dedicate more of its finances to programming, Smith says.
- The extra space will also help expand offerings.
Zoom in: Part of the reason for a deficit in mental health services is low insurance or government reimbursement rates that in turn lead to low staff pay, Smith said.
- CSA plans to leverage its new donations to increase staff wages in the coming years to improve retention of experienced workers, she said.
The intrigue: For-profit companies are opening psychiatric facilities in Iowa, spotting a business opportunity in the shortage of government or nonprofit-run beds, KFF reports.
State of play: CSA’s new clinic began operating in March and the group’s headquarters will transfer to the site in mid-May.
- A ceremonial ribbon cutting is June 25.
What we’re watching: The group also plans to launch a new competency restoration treatment program in coming months.
- That initiative is intended to reduce delays that can occur when people accused of crimes are found incompetent to stand trial.
