The Greene County Supervisors recently approved a letter of request to join a different mental health and disability services region in Iowa.

On Monday, the Supervisors approved a letter of request to join the Central Iowa Community Services (CICS) region. The decision came after the Supervisors gave written notification to the Heart of Iowa Community Services (HICS) region that they will withdraw from the region effective June 30, 2018. Supervisor Vice-Chair Dawn Rudolph is a board member of HICS and previously said they had issues with transparency and not getting the best services needed for Greene County residents. In conversations Rudolph and Greene County Disability Services Coordinator Ellen Ritter have had with CICS, Rudolph thinks they are a better fit.

“There’s just a lot more eyes on the financials, which is comforting to know. There’s a person in each county that helps provide the services. I think with a little bit bigger region, there’s just more eyes to make sure that services are happening in each county that belong to that region.”

Rudolph adds that Ritter’s position will not change as they look to move forward. She anticipates the CICS region to decide next month if they are accepted as a member. Rudolph points out that if they are accepted, they can attend monthly meetings, but have no voting power with the governing board until the start of the next fiscal year on July 1, 2018.

CICS serves ten counties including: Boone, Franklin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jasper, Madison, Marshall, Poweshiek, Story and Warren.