Our First Sunday recipient in October is Community Support Advocates (CSA).  CSA is a West Des Moines based not-for-profit serving those impacted by mental illness and disabilities. CSA serves Central Iowa’s most vulnerable individuals and their families, providing comprehensive services and coordinated care to improve physical, behavioral, and social health outcomes, supporting over 3,000 individuals and families each month.

A family living in Iowa whose child is experiencing a major mental health crisis has very few options for community-based support beyond outpatient mental health therapy and medications. Private health insurance does not cover community-based mental health services, which are designed to help stabilize youth and families, and to keep youth living in their homes and communities and attending school safely. Community-based support assists with prevention, stabilization, and post-crisis support.

DMIEC’s support will help CSA provide scholarships to those young people who can’t currently access the mental health care and community support they desperately need, allowing them to stay in the community while receiving that critical care.

For more information on this organization, visit https://teamcsa.org/services/.

Write checks either to “DMIEC” with “First Sunday” in the memo line or to “”CSA.” Checks should be placed in the October 12th Collection Basket or mailed to DMIEC, P.O. Box 30065, Des Moines, IA 50310

First Sunday checks must be received by DMIEC by October 20th; if you elect to contribute to the First Sunday recipient after that date, please mail your check (made payable to LSI with “DMIEC” in the memo line) directly to Community Support Advocates, 1516 Valley West Drive, West Des Moines, IA 50266.