By Ruth Freeman, ISU Extension Family Resource Management Specialist
If you or someone you know is experiencing major change or stress associated with rural life, the Sowing the Seeds of Hope program may be able to help.
The program offers mental health services – up to five one-hour sessions with a professional provider – for eligible farm/rural family members who do not have insurance coverage or who are underinsured. The short-term individual, marital, family or group services are provided at no cost.
To access the program, call Iowa State University Extension's Iowa Concern Hotline at (800) 447-1985. Hotline staff will screen callers for eligibility, provide names and phone numbers of participating providers, and mail a voucher to an address provided by the caller. Each call is confidential.
When contacting a participating provider, the caller only needs to indicate that he/she is a Sowing the Seeds of Hope referral, and then present the voucher at the appointment. The voucher must be used within 30 days of issue.
Funding for this program is supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Rural Health Policy; the Bureau of Primary Health Care; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; the State of Iowa; and private grants and contributions. The program is administered by AgriWellness, Inc.
Iowa State University Extension has a variety of family resource management resources available. For more information, contact the Greene County Extension Office at 515-386-2138 and ask for Ruth Freeman.