Episode 4: The Bigfoot Division: Senator Mike Zimmer on Iowa’s Elusive Mental Health Services

What if the state agency responsible for children's mental health had a secret "Bigfoot Division"—specializing in blurry photos and anecdotal evidence of services that are always just out of reach?

For too many Iowa families, this frustrating search for care is a daily reality. Despite a landmark court settlement promising comprehensive mental health services for children, the gap between policy and people seems to be widening. To understand why, we go straight to the state capital.

Host Chad Benson sits down with State Senator Mike Zimmer, a 40-year veteran of public education turned legislator, for a candid look behind the political curtain. In this critical conversation, they discuss the real-world impact of the state budget, why Iowa has one of the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates in the country, and the devastating link between our mental health shortcomings and the crisis in juvenile justice. This isn't just a discussion about numbers on a spreadsheet; it’s about the political will—or lack thereof—to fulfill a promise to Iowa's most vulnerable kids.

#MentalHealth #IowaPolitics #CommunityAction

 

 

Link to Resources: https://letstalkiowa.com/resources

 

Senator Zimmer’s Legislative Page: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator?ga=91&personID=37960