2025 Day on the Hill Summary

IMHCA had a very successful Mental Health Day on the Hill on Wednesday, April 2, in collaboration and partnership with several other mental health advocates from across the state including ACA of Iowa, NAMI, NASW of Iowa, Mindspring Mental Health Alliance, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the Iowa Peer Workforce Collaborative.

IMHCA had 18 participants, including IMHCA board members, practitioners from across the state, and students pursuing their Counseling degrees. We started the day with a legislative training and overview of our talking points, led by our Legislative and Public Policy co-chairs Ellyn and Allison, Executive Director Courtney Ackerson, and IMHCA’s lobbyist Emily Piper. We then broke into groups and headed up to the Capitol to connect with legislators, and to meet up with advocates from the other participating agencies for Mental Health Day on the Hill. It was a fantastic showing from all groups with dozens of individuals representing the importance of mental health policy in Iowa.

IMHCA members spoke with 10 different legislators throughout the day about issues of workforce development, the governor’s rural healthcare bill which would impact the mental health provider student loan repayment program, and issues related to insurance credentialing and reimbursement rates. Legislators were engaged and receptive to our concerns and expressed support for advancing access to mental health care in Iowa. Thank you to these legislators for meeting with us and hearing our concerns!

IMHCA spoke with these legislators:
Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell
Rep. Brett Barker
Rep. Dave Jacoby
Rep. Skyler Wheeler
Rep. Jeff Shipley
Rep. Elinor Levin
Rep. Ross Wilburn
Sen. Jeff Taylor
Sen. Herman Quirmbach
Sen. Izaah Knox

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Day on the Hill! We couldn’t do what we do without you!

Photos starting at top: IMHCA members with Rep. Brett Barker; IMHCA and ACA members with Rep. Ross Willburn; IMHCA, ACA, and NAMI board members; IMHCA members with Rep. Wessel-Kroeschell; IMHCA members with Rep. Jeff Shipley; IMHCA members with Rep. Dave Jacoby in the House chamber; legislative training; IMHCA Legislative and Public Policy Chairs Ellyn and Allison.