University of Iowa Scanlan Center for Mental Health staff (some shown here costumed for Halloween) work with school districts across Iowa to provide students with mental health services. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Elliot)
Iowans can’t find a child and adolescent psychiatrist south of Woodbury County or west of Dallas County, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
There are only 62 child and adolescent psychiatrists in the state, according to the data, and 86% of Iowa counties have none practicing within their borders. These gaps in care have been especially felt in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, University of Iowa clinical associate psychiatry professor Amanda Elliot said. She and others at the university’s center for school mental health are striving to fill those gaps with telehealth offerings anywhere in the state.
“The earlier we can pair services to target symptoms as well as coping skills, it is the best way to establish long-term success for students,” Elliot said.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
The University of Iowa Scanlan Center for School Mental Health is expanding its services to offer short-term psychiatric care to K-12 students all across Iowa, working with school districts and families to ensure access and break down barriers.
Founded with dollars provided by the state through COVID-19 relief funding, the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health offers clinical services to Iowa schools in order to connect with students in need, as well as research, training, professional development and more. Elliot said the center has offered both individual and group therapy to K-12 students and teachers throughout the state since the 2022-2023 school year.
She started at the center last summer offering psychiatric services to districts in the areas of the state with the least support, starting with the southwest corner and expanding to the northeast region. Starting this school year, Elliot’s services are available to any district in the state.
Educators realized after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic that students who were unable to go to school during that time faced academic delays and difficulties with social development, which can increase stress already felt by young people. This can influence the development of anxiety and depression, Elliot said, which can be offset with mental health care.
Alissa Doobay, director of clinical services at the center, said she and other staff members are happy about being able to reach more rural young people who wouldn’t have other opportunities to receive mental health services.
“We’re very excited for this opportunity, because we know that mental health care in general is a need in our state, and particularly for youth, but when it comes to psychiatric care, there’s an even greater need,” Doobay said.
The center connects to students and teachers through school districts, Doobay said, as well as Area Education Agencies. After confirming with the school that they have the resources available to provide a safe space, technology and help for the student in need, center staff will meet with the families to get more information before setting up an appointment time with the student.
Both therapy and psychiatric services through the center are short-term, Doobay said, in order to make sure they can serve as many people as possible while still providing needed care that will, hopefully, encourage clients to get on waitlists for long-term care if needed.
With the COVID-19 relief funding having ended in September, the center’s services now cost a fee after the initial consultation, the price of which is discussed during said consultation. Elliot said they use insurance where they can to offset the fee, and those without insurance or who are lower income may qualify for financial assistance. They are also seeking additional grants.
From October 2023 through September 2024, the center conducted 1,037 sessions for 114 individual clients spread across 72 school districts, Elliot said. About 8% of clients had no insurance, and nearly a quarter were using Medicaid, she said.
While she has no set goals for the number of clients or districts reached for this school year, Elliot said she hopes to help more kids start their journey to having better care and coping skills when things get hard. She said families have expressed appreciation for their school’s involvement and the easier access to care.
“Families just appreciate that their kids are able to get care without having to drive three or four hours to find access to a therapist or a psychiatrist, without having to take as much time off work,” Elliot said.
YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.