Advocacy and Training
 

Mid-Iowa Family Therapy Clinic, Inc. provides culturally diverse advocacy, training, and support services to children with mental health needs and their families, and community providers.

This is provided through the following services:

Advocacy for Families:

• Parent Advocates:  
  The role of the parent advocate is to provide support and guidance necessary to challenge systemic barriers to their child’s welfare. It is anticipated that lasting network of friendships and informal support resources, and a sense of community, will be facilitated. The parent advocate will receive specialized training from experts in the field of education, medical treatment, legal and diversity issues.
  
  If you are interested in being a parent advocate, please call our toll free telephone number 1-800-649-5423.
   
• Parent Advisory Council: 
  The Parent Advisory Council is made up of parents having a child with mental health issues. Recruitment of parents from diverse backgrounds is emphasized in order to gather information regarding diversity needs for families having a child with mental health issues.
  
  The main goal of the council is to identify areas for improvement relating to advocacy, support, and training for children and their families having mental health concerns.
  
  If you are interested in being a member of the Parent Advisory Council, please call our toll free telephone number 1-800-649-5423.

Additional Training Opportunities:

• State-wide Conference:
  Mid-Iowa Family Therapy Clinic, Inc. will organize a statewide conference regarding meeting the mental health needs of children and their families. More information regarding this information will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

• Training and Consultation:
  Mid-Iowa Family Therapy Clinic, Inc. provides requested in-service training and/or consultation to schools, Area Education Agencies, and other educational staff throughout the state.  Trainings will be facilitated by experienced staff with knowledge of the resources available in a specific area of the state and who have developed professional relationships in their area.
  
  To arrange for an in-service training contact Heather Pickart at 1-319-833-0072.

Mid-Iowa Family Therapy Clinic, Inc. provides to individual children, families, community providers and others, statewide assistance to identify, promote, and secure community, educational, and support services to meet an individual child’s or family’s mental health needs. 

These Case Advocate/Support Services may be requested by calling our toll free telephone number 1-800-649-5423.

Information requested of clients may include, but is not limited to: educational services, family legal rights to educational services, healthcare services, health insurance, family legal rights to health care services, treatment services, and methods that may be used to secure mental health services.