Northwest Iowa — (RI) — Three northwest Iowa counties are exploring new ways to coordinate mental health services after a series of disagreements.
Sioux, Plymouth and Woodbury counties have shared a state-mandated community mental health system called Sioux Rivers since 2014. Woodbury County officials decided last year to leave Sioux Rivers. Board of Supervisors Chair Rocky De Witt says the county didn’t always agree with the votes taken by the regional board.
Woodbury County is on track to join a region with Sac and Ida counties next July. Sioux and Plymouth counties would need to bring one county in to replace Woodbury County and keep Sioux Rivers running, but at a meeting last week, Plymouth County officials drafted a letter asking to join a nearby region that includes Dickinson and Lyon counties. Plymouth County Board of Supervisors Chair Don Kass says he feels confident in the change after the falling out in Sioux Rivers.
Under the current model, Woodbury County pays about 63-percent of the cost services, but uses about 73-percent. If Sioux Rivers is dissolved, the counties would have to sell the center and distribute the proceeds.
