1. 1-800-447-1985

2. Mandated by legislature in 1985 during the Farm Crisis Organized by various agencies Toll free national number 1-800-447-1985 Name changed to Iowa Concern during the floods of 1993 to serve all of Iowa and not just rural Iowa. History of Iowa Concern (Rural Concern) Hotline Services Iowa Concern Provides: 1.Information and Referral 2.Legal Education 3.Stress Counseling

3. Disaster Projects Tornadoes Floods Ice storms Blizzards Hay Hotline Rebuild Iowa Calls – answered and filtered DHS Crisis Counseling after disasters Mental Health Projects Ticket to Hope Sowing the Seeds of Hope Other H1N1 Calls 2009 Substance abuse Disaster Media Campaign Protect Iowa Health DHS Compromised Records (multiple times) Iowa Concern Projects

4. Current Hotline Specifics Iowa Concern Hotline is written into the State of Iowa Disaster Plan Iowa Concern has received over 350,000 calls since 1985 10 – 20 live chats per month 12 – 20 emails per month Currently 12% of calls are rural Callers are from all over the nation/world Calls answered 24/7 Bi-lingual staff and services available

5. Other hotlines answered by Iowa Concern Staff  Healthy Families  Teen Line  Bets Off  211  Targeted Case Manager After Hours

6. 211/Hotline Staff All staff have 4-year college degrees o Human Services o Family & Marriage Counseling o Health Services, etc. Most staff are I&R AIRS certified (or in process) All staff attend monthly training for updates. Staff are cross-trained and updated as needed for new projects and programs.

7. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Helping Iowans Become Their Best Connecting to All Iowa Residents through Iowa Concern,211 and other Hotlines 24/7

8. Margaret VanGinkel, Hotline Coordinator ISU Extension Outreach 10861 Douglas Avenue, Suite B Urbandale, IA 50322 (515)727-0656 vangin@iastate.edu www.extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern