Mainstream Living

Advocacy and Action

Mainstream Living believes that our communities are better when we invest in the people that need us the most. Together with our state and national partners, we work to advocate for individuals with disabilities and mental illness and the people and agencies that support them.  We hope that you'll join us in our efforts to ask that policy makers prioritize the needs of our our most vulnerable.  

Take Action

In the 2022 Iowa Legislative Session, the direct care workforce is our priority and we need your help! The state of Iowa is short thousands of direct care employees, and providers are struggling with shortages and high turnover rates.  DSPs provide essential services, but Iowa’s current reimbursement rates are fixed, making it nearly impossible for community providers to recruit and retain quality employees
during the current employment shortage.

Please help us close the gap! Although there was a 3.55% rate increase for HCBS (effective July 1, 2021), our need was 10% and the cost of living went up 6% in the last 12 months. We need additional funding in order to attract and maintain quality DSPs. Without such funding, important services will be cut, and community providers will continue to consolidate or close. The fate of vulnerable Iowans is literally hanging in the balance. Your help is needed to advocate for additional legislative appropriations for our staff.  Join Mainstream Living and the Iowa Association of Community Providers in contacting law makers.  
 

 Contact Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds

Governor Reynolds
1007 East Grand Ave.
Des Moines, Iowa  50319

Phone Number | 515-281-5211.

Click here to find and contact your legislator

Example Letters

Listed below are sample letters that you can customize and sent to the Governor's office and/or to your legislator(s).  They can be sent via email or regular mail.  These are simply examples. We encourage you to include your own stories and experiences and to personalize as much as possible.  Please contact acorrieri@mainstreamliving.org if you need assistance.  

General Advocacy Letter

DSP Advocacy Letter

Parent/Guardian Advocacy Letter

 

Our Partners

Iowa Association of Care Providers (IACP) 

IACP represents over 130 community organizations and 30,000 employees. Those Iowa organizations support over 160,000 Iowans needing mental health and disability services. Members serve all 99 Iowa counties and annually contribute over $1.3 billion to Iowa’s economy. 

Click here to view IACP's current legislative priorities. 

American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR)

ANCOR promotes and supports a national network of private community providers of services to people with intellectual, developmental, and other significant disabilities. Together, with the support and engagement of community stakeholders they work to shape the public policy that impacts the disability community.  

Click here to view ANCOR's current congressional policy priorities. 

 

 

 

 

© 2024 Mainstream Living, Inc.