The DSM USA Policy HQ podcast is a monthly conversation between experts on public policy topics impacting business and the relationship between government and the private sector.

In the 10th installment of the DSM USA Policy HQ podcast, Polk County Supervisor Robert Brownell and Liz Cox, CEO of Polk County Health Services discussed children’s mental health. This topic is an expansion on June’s discussion of statewide mental health efforts, following Iowa Legislature’s passage of a new funding model for mental health state.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) approximately 80,000 children and youth in Iowa have a serious emotional disturbance or mental illness that causes disability at school, home and in the community. Additionally, last year, 22% of Polk County Health Services’ mobile crisis calls were in support of children.