DES MOINES, IOWA (December 1, 2025) — With the Iowa Primary Care Association (Iowa PCA) now serving as Iowa’s Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organization, the organization’s statewide network of system navigation services is helping people facing mental-health concerns, substance-use challenges, and addictive disorders.
“The Behavioral Health Services team at the Iowa PCA doesn’t just offer information and referrals — it’s much more than that,” said Abbey Ferenzi, Iowa PCA’s Senior Director of Behavioral Health Services.
“Our staff provide support, guidance, and complete a lot of the leg work for a person to get them confidently connected,” Ferenzi explained that the Iowa PCA’s team does not provide long-term services or case management.
“We are not the destination but rather the connecting flight, quickly addressing a person’s needs and guiding them until they land where they need to be.”
Positioned across the state, the Iowa PCA’s Behavioral Health Services team helps those struggling with mental health concerns, substance use, or gambling, and they are available to support caregivers and communities.
Challenges in getting connected to behavioral health-care vary based on a person’s circumstances or where they live. Because of this, the Iowa PCA has recruited experts from an array of backgrounds, including previous work with substance abuse, mental health, pediatric behavioral health, elder care, children, prevention, and more. Peer support specialists, social workers, and other professional backgrounds round out the Iowa PCA’s Behavioral Health Services team, who live and work in the areas of the state they serve.
“Our team has directly interacted within these complex systems in a multitude of ways and has a deep understanding of them,” said Aaron Todd, CEO of the Iowa Primary Care Association.
“It takes a special kind of person to work through expansive systems such as schools, hospitals, and jails, and accomplish positive outcomes for those seeking help. We’re building a support system for Iowans facing mental-health concerns, substance-use challenges, and addictive disorders. The expertise, experience and insights our team brings to their work is essential to creating a more connected and cohesive behavioral-health service system.”
Another key focus for the Iowa PCA’s Behavioral Health Services team is outreach and public education. Through collaborative work with community-based organizations, the team helps to spread the word that system navigation services are free and accessible to all Iowans regardless of their insurance status. They also provide general education about behavioral health and the variety of support services and resources available.
“We know that if people understand more, they are much more likely to follow through with care,” said Ferenzi.
“We’re working to keep people supported and informed, and we’re ensuring there are clear pathways for Iowans to get connected to the services and support they need. With increased access and enhanced comfort through an understanding of services, they are more likely to take steps toward support and recovery.”
The goal of the Iowa PCA’s Behavioral Health Services’ work is to complement current programs with other organizations and help people who might not fit specific parameters of those existing programs so they can get the help they need. System navigation services from the Iowa PCA adds to the ways people can seek help, serving as an enhancement rather than a replacement. Iowans who already have behavioral health services in place can continue to rely on their existing providers — and they can find additional support from the Iowa PCA’s Behavioral Health Services, if they need it.
“Complex problems require complex answers. When someone is in need of help, they need guidance on how to get the treatment and care that fits the issues they’re facing,” said Marissa Eyanson, Behavioral Health Division Director with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
“The Iowa PCA is working in partnership with our team and the many organizations out there, so that gaps are filled and Iowans struggling with behavioral health challenges get connected to care when they need it.”
In addition to connecting Iowans with needed services and providing community outreach, the Iowa PCA’s Behavioral Health Services team works to decrease the stigma around seeking mental-health help.
“The behavioral health system can be complex and challenging, which is why our system navigation services are providing a pathway that lowers barriers to accessing care,” said Emma Hall, Director of System Navigation with the Iowa PCA.
The system navigation support offered by the Iowa PCA’s Behavioral Health Services team does not end with the first phone call. The team then starts the legwork of reaching to providers and researching community resources, providing information and choices to the individual so they can make informed decisions based on their needs and preferences. The team then introduces the individual to behavioral-health providers and other supports, and follows up to ensure they feel supported and connected to services.
“The need is great,” Hall said. “The enormity of behavioral health needs is evident, and it takes a statewide effort to have a true impact across Iowa.”
For Iowans seeking treatment, the message remains clear: Services are available. Support is just a call, text, or click away. Your Life Iowa — a state-supported resource available 24/7 — serves as a brightly-lit front door for anyone needing support, regardless of their income or if they have health insurance. Through Your Life Iowa, people can access system navigation help for challenges including mental health, substance use, gambling issues, or suicidal thoughts. For help, call 855-581-8111, text 855-895-8398 or visit YourLifeIowa.org. After reaching out to Your Life Iowa, Iowans may be connected with the Iowa PCA’s Behavioral Health Services team for access to supportive services and a wide range of behavioral-health resources.
