Make a difference in the lives of Iowans with disabilities!
Disability Rights Iowa will be recruiting new members for our Mental Health Advisory Council for terms starting April, 2024. Apply if you are interested in the opportunity to create change in the lives of Iowans with Mental Health Diagnosis’s by working with a passionate and committed Board on advancing Disability Rights Iowa’s mission of Advocating for justice. Advancing human and legal rights. Protecting Iowans with disabilities. The term of a Council member is 3 years with the option of serving an additional second term of 3 years. Council members are volunteers and may resign before the end of their term for any reason.
Council member Eligibility:
- Resident of Iowa
- A majority of the members must either be:
- a individual who is receiving or has received mental health services
- a family member of a individual who is receiving or has received mental health services; including parents of minor children who are or have received services.
- Community members interested and knowledgeable about the issues and concerns Iowans and their families who receive mental health services are encountering
Council Member criteria:
The Mental Health Advisory Council will seek to represent the diversity of the mental health community in Iowa and will consider criteria including;
- A sincere awareness of and interest in protecting the legal rights of Iowans receiving mental health services.
- A desire to promote DRI’s mission, vision, and core values statewide.
- Geographic diversity representing all regions of Iowa
- Representation of historically marginalized groups
- Skills and an interest in areas helpful to DRI, such as a mental health provider, a mental health professional, attorney
- A commitment to participate in efforts to increase DRI’s capacity to complete its mission.
Application Process:
DRI has a short application on its website. The applications received will be reviewed against current Mental Health Advisory Council composition requirements. Applicants that meet current Council composition requirements will be interviewed by a member of the Council. Recommendations will be submitted to the Council for full Council consideration. In the selection process the Council will make decisions based on eligibility and criteria outlined above.
Advisory Council duties:
Council members are responsible for working with the Board of Directors on developing DRI’s annual priorities (areas of focus) and policies. Council members also advise the Board and Executive Director on a ongoing basis on issues and concerns affecting Iowans with mental health diagnosis’s and their families.
The Mental Health Advisory Council has no financial responsibilities.
The Mental Health Advisory Council is required to submit an annual report to the agencies federal funding partner for the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with mental health diagnosis’s with their assessment of the agencies work for the previous fiscal year.
How many members are on the Advisory Council?
The maximum number of Council members is 9.
What is the time commitment of Advisory Council members?
Council members are expected to attend three meetings a year, two meetings jointly with the Board, one Council only meeting.
