Cherokee, Iowa (NorthwestIowaNow.com) — Changes have begun shaping mental health care in Northwest Iowa and the historic Cherokee Mental Health Institute.

The state of Iowa recently enacted a major shift in its mental health system, replacing the old regional offices with a new, streamlined approach. The Cherokee Mental Health Institute, a historic facility that opened in 1902, is at the heart of these changes.

The facility, which has a long history of serving the region’s most vulnerable, has a new, specialized role. Under the state’s new system, the Cherokee MHI now focuses exclusively on providing care for adults. This includes people who are a danger to themselves or others, as well as court-ordered forensic cases, such as those related to competency to stand trial.

The facility is no longer accepting child or adolescent admissions. All youth needing state-level inpatient psychiatric care are now directed to the Independence Mental Health Institute in eastern Iowa. The goal is to better align services and provide a more focused approach to care.

The Cherokee Mental Health Institute, which has an average daily census of about 44 patients and had an occupancy rate of 97% in 2022, is one of only two state-run mental health institutes in Iowa. The other is the Independence facility. The facility also houses the Civil Commitment Unit for Sexual Offenders, a secure unit for the treatment of sexually violent predators.

For those with loved ones who need mental health support, remember that Iowa has launched a new, statewide resource. The “Your Life Iowa” service is available 24/7 by call, text, or chat to help connect you with a behavioral health system navigator who can guide you to the right care and resources.