Winneshiek County Board is wrestling with the effects of the state's reorganization of mental health programming

The Iowa State Legislature approved a redesign of the delivery of mental health and developmental disability services two years ago.  The new system will have such services provided through regional consortiums.  Winneshiek County has joined with 21 other counties in a regional organization that will handle many of the administrative duties formerly handled by Winneshiek County MH/DD CPC Jan Heikes.

Heikes has now accepted a job as a program planner for the MH/DD Division of the Iowa Department of Human Services, leaving Winneshiek County without a coordinator as of the end of this week.

On Monday county supervisors met with Bob Lincoln, the administrator of County Social Services, to discuss Winneshiek County's options.

One option would be to hire a service coordinator who would supervise the delivery of services to local clients.  Another option would be for Winneshiek County to share such a position with Allamakee, Howard, or some other neighboring county.

Supervisors discussed whether they would have enough input into the 22-county consortium in charge of mental health and developmental disability programs.  Heikes also said she was concerned, stating, "My biggest fear is that if all the administrative function take place at the regional level, (local input) could get lost."

For the moment, however, Heikes' position will not be filled.  Supervisors will spend the next three months trying to figure out their best option.  Said supervisor Floyd Ashbacher, "(The question is) how do we get from here to there?"