(Neola) NAMI Southwest Iowa has been awarded Iowa Opioid Settlement Funding through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to expand and strengthen services for individuals and families impacted by opioid use disorder and co-occurring mental health conditions across nine rural counties in Southwest Iowa.
This funding will support a comprehensive approach to opioid abatement, including jail-based education and peer support, community-based programming, harm reduction education, naloxone distribution, and expanded access to recovery-oriented services. Programming will be delivered in partnership with county jails, recovery providers, healthcare systems, and community organizations.
“We see every day how closely mental health and substance use are intertwined, especially in rural communities where services are limited and stigma remains a barrier,” said Anna Killpack, Executive Director of NAMI Southwest Iowa. “This investment allows us to meet people where they are — in the community, in jails, and in recovery — with education, support, and connection to care that saves lives.”
Funds will be used to expand NAMI Southwest Iowa’s ReConnect programs, including ReConnect Peer Insights and ReConnect Peer Immersion for individuals with lived experience, as well as caregiver education offerings for family members. Services will continue in the Pottawattamie County Jail and community settings while expanding partnerships with additional county jails, hospitals, clinics, and recovery centers throughout the region.
The award aligns with Iowa’s opioid settlement priorities by supporting evidence-based and community-driven strategies that address prevention, treatment, recovery, harm reduction, and re-entry support for justice-involved individuals.
“This funding is not just about programs — it’s about restoring dignity, strengthening families, and building pathways to recovery in communities that have been hit hard by the opioid crisis,” Killpack added.
NAMI Southwest Iowa serves adults and families across Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby counties. Services are offered at no cost to participants.
For more information about NAMI Southwest Iowa or available programs, visit www.namisouthwestiowa.org
