Statewide Iowa – This week marks the second anniversary of the launch of 9-8-8, the national hotline for mental health emergencies. A report by the mental health advocacy organization Inseparable finds 87-percent of Iowa’s calls are being answered by in-state call centers, which is near the 90-percent goal. Emily Blomme is the CEO of Foundation 2 Crisis Services in Cedar Rapids, which operates one of Iowa’s two call centers. She says the turnover rate is almost at 50 percent.
Blomme says the biggest challenge remains finding and retaining staff, and she adds, the worker shortage strains the entire call center.
Blomme says she’s had to increase pay and benefits in order to try to attract more staff members.
(Image courtesy of Radio Iowa)
