Deep Dives

Conversations with Iowa's families on supporting the postpartum period.

The systemic barriers to mental health support for children and youth are significant. Iowa faces both access and workforce challenges: many communities have few to no providers, and the current workforce cannot keep pace with demand. More than 1.8 million Iowans live in a community without sufficient mental health providers. These workforce challenges lead to reduced access and ultimately unmet needs. [1] Nationally, more than 20% of adolescents ages 12-17 report having an unmet mental health care need in the last 12 months. [2]

Paid leave is something we all need and can benefit from. It allows us to care for our loved ones during critical times, including our babies during the first few weeks of life and our aging parents as they need more support. It allows us to stay home when a child is sick or recover from a surgery, without the risk of losing our job.