A District Advisory Council is established to identify opportunities, address challenges, and advise the Administrative Service Organization (ASO).

Per Iowa Code 225.A.5. each council will consist of 10 members who represent their behavioral health district in one of the following roles:

1. Three members shall be local elected public officials currently holding office within the district, or the public official’s designated representative.

2. Three members with lived/living behavioral health experience will be chosen to ensure representation of the populations served within the district. Lived/living experience is defined as personal knowledge gained through direct and/or first-hand experience with behavioral health conditions.  At least one member chosen shall represent child or adolescent persons.

3. Three members shall be chosen who have experience or education related to core behavioral health functions, essential behavioral health services, behavioral health prevention, behavioral health treatment, population-based behavioral health services, or community-based behavioral health initiatives.

4. One member shall be a law enforcement representative from within the district.  

A list of District Advisory Council members by district can be found below.

Per Iowa Code 225.A.5. the responsibilities of the District Advisory Councils include the following:

1. Identify opportunities and address challenges based on updates received from the ASO regarding the implementation of the district behavioral health plan.

2. Advise the ASO while the ASO is developing BH policies.

3. Advise the ASO on how to best provide access to BH prevention, education, early intervention, treatment, recovery support, and crisis services related to mental health and addictive disorders, including but not limited to alcohol use, substance use, tobacco use, and problem gambling, throughout the district. 

The district map of Iowa’s Behavioral Health Service System can be found here.

Yes, the public is welcome to attend the District Advisory Councils. Information will be posted under the Council Meetings section of this page.

Applications will continue to be accepted for vacant roles.

Council Member Recruitment: We are still working to fill 12 District Advisory Council members in the following Districts.Please encourage Iowans you know from these districts who fit the following roles to apply:

• District 1: 3 members with lived experience and 1 elected official member (cannot represent Woodbury County as we already have 2 members from this county)

• District 2: 1 member with lived experience (cannot represent Webster or Worth Counties as we already have 2 members from these counties)

• District 3: 3 elected official members (cannot represent Cerro Gordo or Bremer Counties as we already have 2 members from these counties)

• District 5: 2 members with lived experience and 1 elected official member (cannot represent Polk or Story Counties as we already have 2 members from these counties)

• District 6: 1 elected official member (cannot represent Washington, Henry, or Lee Counties as we already have 2 members from these counties)

Next Steps:

• Applications can be submitted here. To complete your application, please submit your resume to info@iowapca.org. 

• View the map of District Advisory Council Seats here.

• Promote the District Advisory Council openings by sharing our flyer here.