Iowa's initiative to advance strategies to deliver and sustain evidence-based chronic disease self-management education programs to support adults with behavioral health conditions - the iowa…

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living awarded a $1,132,785 cooperative agreement to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services on August 1, 2026, under the Empowering Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities through Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Programs (CFDA 93.734).

Iowa DHHS, in partnership with the Iowa Primary Care Association, Iowa Community Hub, NAMI Iowa, and Iowa's Aging and Disability Network, will deliver evidence-based chronic disease self-management education programs to older adults age 60 and above and individuals with disabilities across Iowa. The recipient will implement the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) and Walk with Ease (WWE), targeting participants with behavioral health conditions including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, or life stressors such as caregiving responsibilities and new diagnoses. Delivery formats include in-person, virtual, and self-guided options. Iowa DHHS will leverage the statewide Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization to coordinate program access and engagement through the Community Care Hub. Objectives include expanding statewide access to both programs, building a trained and sustainable workforce, strengthening bidirectional e-referral pathways, implementing standardized data collection and reporting, and distributing Section 508-compliant materials to support replication and sustainability. The recipient projects 300 program completers in year one, 600 in year two, and 1,200 in year three, with expected improvements in behavioral health outcomes, self-management confidence, and provider knowledge and referral networks.

Performance runs through July 31, 2029, in Iowa.

Iowa's initiative to advance strategies to deliver and sustain evidence-based chronic disease self-management education programs to support adults with behavioral health conditions - the iowa department of health and human services (iowa HHS), in partnership with the iowa primary care association (iowa PCA) - the statewide administrative service organization for iowa's redesigned behavioral health system, - iowa community hub, nami iowa, and iowa's aging and disability network, will deliver evidence-based self-management programs to older adults (60+) and individuals with disabilities across iowa, improving behavioral health and self-management outcomes. The chronic disease self-management program (cdsmp) and walk with ease (WWE) target those with behavioral health conditions (depression, anxiety, substance use disorders) or life stressors (e.g., caregiving responsibilities, new diagnoses). Cdsmp and WWE were selected for their proven success in iowa, strong evidence base and flexible delivery formats (in-person, virtual, self-guided), enabling broad statewide reach. Iowa HHS will leverage the statewide behavioral health administrative services organization (BH-ASO), which manages iowa's behavioral health system, and coordinate with iowa's community care hub to increase program access, engagement and participation. Objectives include: 1) expand access through statewide delivery of cdsmp and WWE; 2) build a sustainable, trained workforce; 3) strengthen bidirectional e-referral pathways and provider engagement; 4) implement standardized data collection and reporting; and 5) distribute section 508-compliant materials to support replication and sustainability. Outcomes include: 1) increased enrollment and completion rates; 2) improved behavioral health and self-management confidence; 3) strengthened provider knowledge and referral networks; and 4) sustainable statewide delivery infrastructure. Projected reach: 300 completers in year 1, 600 in year 2 and 1,200 in year 3 for each program, cdsmp and WW.