Iowa PCA Announces $1.3 Million in Organizational Development Awards to Strengthen Iowa’s Behavioral Health Safety Net
The Iowa Primary Care Association (Iowa PCA), through funding provided by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS), is pleased to announce the recipients of the Organizational Development Funding Opportunity for community-based organizations (CBOs). These one-time investments will support behavioral health organizations across Iowa as they strengthen leadership capacity, improve operational performance, enhance financial sustainability, and build organizational resilience for the future.
Investing in Long-Term Sustainability
The Organizational Development Funding Opportunity was created to support time-limited projects that improve organizational effectiveness and promote long-term sustainability. Unlike traditional grant programs that support direct services, this funding opportunity was specifically designed to strengthen the internal capacity of organizations that play an essential role in Iowa’s Behavioral Health Service System. By investing in the people, processes, and systems that support service delivery, these organizations will be better positioned to provide sustainable, high-quality care for years to come.
The selected projects reflect the diverse needs of Iowa’s behavioral health provider and partner network. Awardees will pursue initiatives such as:
Leadership development and succession planning
Revenue cycle and financial sustainability improvements
Operational workflow redesign and process improvement
Strategic planning and organizational transformation
Data infrastructure and performance management systems
Workforce development and clinical excellence programs
Technology modernization and implementation
Culture and change management initiatives
These investments will help organizations build stronger foundations, improve efficiency, support staff development, and enhance their ability to respond to changing community needs.
2026 Organizational Development Funding Awardees
The following organizations have been selected for funding:
Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC)
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County
Big Brother Big Sisters of Mississippi Valley
Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center
Center Associates
Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health
Community and Family Resources
EasterSeals
EveryStep
Foundation 2 Crisis Services
Four Oaks
Heartland Family Services
Hillcrest Family Services
House of Mercy
Infinity Health
Life Connections
Life Connections Peer Recovery
Lutheran Services in Iowa
NAMI Central Iowa
NAMI Johnson County
NAMI Southwest Iowa
Northeast Iowa Mental Health Center
Orchard Place
Pathways Behavioral Services
Rosecrance Jackson Centers
Seasons Center for Behavioral Health
Siouxland Mental Health Center
Tanager Place
UCS Healthcare
Vera French
WESCO Industries
YSS
Looking Ahead
Awarded projects will officially begin on October 1, 2026, and be completed by June 30, 2027. Throughout the project period, participating organizations will engage in reporting and shared learning activities that help identify successful practices and lessons learned across Iowa’s Behavioral Health Service System. Information generated through these projects will inform future training and technical support and continued improvement across the provider network.
The Iowa PCA extends its sincere congratulations to all award recipients and appreciation to every organization that submitted an application. The high level of interest in this funding opportunity demonstrated both the commitment of Iowa’s behavioral health organizations and the ongoing need for investment in organizational capacity and sustainability.
By strengthening the organizations that support behavioral health services across Iowa, these investments will help ensure that communities continue to have access to strong, resilient, and effective providers well into the future.