Bancroft County, Iowa

Public Health Board of Trustees

Meeting of June 19, 2025

Bancroft County, Iowa · Open to the public

Agenda

1. Call to order and roll call
2. Approval of minutes from May 15, 2025
3. Financial report
4. Mental health capacity: regional partnership exploration
5. Adjournment

Minutes

The Bancroft County Public Health Board of Trustees met at 5:30 p.m. in the conference room of the Community Services Building, Adams Junction. Chair Rao called the meeting to order.

Present: Trustees Rao, Kellerman, Benitez, Hoyt, and Mehta. Also present: Public Health Director Dr. Lena Foss and Community Health Nurse Supervisor Karen Whitfield, RN.

Motion by Hoyt, seconded by Mehta, to approve the May 15, 2025 minutes. Carried 5–0.

Director Foss reported that Bancroft County has zero resident psychiatrists and that wait times for the regional MHDS region's outpatient mental health services have grown to several weeks. Foss described early conversations with three neighboring counties about a shared regional mental health capacity investment, potentially including a subacute care facility, pending state legislative action expected in 2026.

Motion by Kellerman, seconded by Benitez, to direct Director Foss to continue exploring the regional partnership and report back this fall. Carried 5–0.

With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:03 p.m.. Next meeting: as scheduled.

_________________________
Dr. Anita Rao, Chair
Attest: Lena Foss, Public Health Director

Minutes approved as presented at the following regular meeting. Fictional demonstration record.