SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
February 4, 2021
Sullivan’s Salvos 2/9/21
In this edition:
*Vaccine Information
*GuideLink Opening
*Bowl For Kids’ Sake
*Seeking Truth Locally
*Did You Know?
*Vaccine Information
I know everyone out there is seeking information about vaccinations. Unfortunately, we simply do not have adequate doses of vaccine to handle the demand.
If you want the very latest information, your best bet is the County website: https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov. There you will find all the information we have to share.
I know it is scary. I know it is slow. I know it is frustrating. Please be patient and know that we are doing the best we can. Thanks.
*GuideLink Opening
The GuideLink Center, a behavior health access center, is open for business on February 15! This is the result of the work of literally scores of people for literally over a decade. I am SO pleased that we have arrived at this day!
A bit of background: In July of ’18 the Board recently voted (4-1 with Rettig in the negative) to purchase 5.34 acres of land on Southgate Avenue in Iowa City for the purpose of constructing a Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center. That center was later named GuideLink.
In general, GuideLink traces back to the efforts of former Johnson County Jail Alternatives Coordinator Jessica Peckover. Jessica had visited a program in Bexar County, Texas (San Antonio) that had done a remarkable job of redirecting people with mental health and/or substance abuse issues from the jail and emergency room to more appropriate services. Jessica came away impressed, and convinced a number of Johnson County folks to visit as well. (I was one of those visitors.)
The program in Bexar County is a true win-win-win. First, and most importantly, sick people get the care they need. Secondly, officers are able to drop off patients quickly and get back on the streets, increasing public safety. Finally, local governments actually save money serving these folks. Win-win-win. I believe we will see the same thing here.
We decided to move forward. That process started with sending local law enforcement officers to San Antonio to be trained in Crisis Intervention Training (CIT). After sending dozens of officers from various agencies, we felt comfortable doing the training ourselves here in Johnson County. As of this writing, well over 90% of all law enforcement officers in Johnson County have been trained on CIT.
But training officers is only one piece of the puzzle. We also need to provide those officers an option other than jail or the ER. That alternative is GuideLink.
GuideLink is a joint project including but not limited to Johnson County; a number of cities, including Iowa City, Coralville, and North Liberty; numerous local nonprofits; the UI College of Nursing; and the Department of Emergency Medicine at the UIHC. The managing entity is Abbe Health.
Law enforcement officers have begged for help for decades. Family members have begged for help for decades. People who will be served have needed help for decades. The day has finally arrived where we can serve them each appropriately.
This particular location has several advantages: It is close to the Crisis Center, Shelter House, and Prelude, all of which are going to be key players in the project. Law enforcement officers like the location. It is on a bus line. We built what we need now and have a bit of room to expand in the future, if necessary.
I am proud of the work we have done so far, and proud of my work to get GuideLink open. People with mental illnesses and their families deserve better. It is time we took this step.
*Bowl For Kids’ Sake
The Sullivan for Supervisor team is once again raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County by Bowling For Kids’ Sake.
BBBS is trying several different things to get bowlers to participate: You can bowl in person (like normal) but masked and distanced; you can get a rain check and bowl later in the year; you can bowl virtually using an app; or you can compete in an online trivia contest.
I am not going in person this year. That is sad, because it breaks a streak of about 20 consecutive years. (ironically, BFKS was one of the last things we did in 2020 before COVID hit.)
But we are still going to raise money! Because BBBS is REALLY important! Statistics show that having a trusted adult mentor makes an unbelievable difference in the life of a child. Kids with BBBS matches do better academically, are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, and are less likely to be involved in the criminal justice system. This simple idea WORKS.
Please contribute to the Sullivan for Supervisor team at: https://amplify.e-activist.com/18381/bfks2021/103319/bowl-for-kids-sake.
*Seeking Truth Locally
In my opinion, the biggest problem facing America is our inability to agree upon the facts. Unfortunately, I fear that similar things could be happening at the local level.
There are a number of reasons for this:
1. We do not have the amount of local coverage we once enjoyed.
2. We lack the depth of coverage we once enjoyed. So even if you are lucky enough to hear or read something, the odds are you do not get enough context to fully understand the situation.
3. While most local governments are doing much more to push out information, it still may not be enough. And even the best efforts will likely not reach everyone.
4. Local government is getting more and more complex. The packet for a county meeting can be 500 pages long. Who has the bandwidth (literally and figuratively) to wade through that?
5. Again, the complexity: Even if you have access to all the relevant data, you may require assistance deciphering it.
6. Locals are much more likely to hear about local government from someone on social media. Who knows how accurate that is?
7. Scoundrels know that with just a few social media posts, they can cause great division. So they do.
Nationally, many unscrupulous politicians have found ways to use the lack of good information (and prevalence of disinformation) to their political advantage. Unfortunately, the same thing is beginning to happen at the local levels of government. I have seen it at the County, in the City of Iowa City, and the ICCSD. There are likely other examples of which I am not aware.
Challenging this trend will be critical to the successes and/or failures of local government. So what do we do? I have a few ideas:
First, go straight to the source. Ask local elected officials questions, and put their responses on the record. Replying to your questions is what they are elected to do.
Secondly, ask local government offices if you have questions. They are there to answer you. (So long as you are within reason.)
Thirdly, financially support good local journalism. But only if it is good! Make them earn your support.
Finally, correct misstatements when you hear or see them. Do your part to stop disinformation.
Those are my ideas. What are your thoughts?
*DID YOU KNOW? BBBS of Johnson County served about 350 local youth in 2019, providing over 22,000 hours of mentoring.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
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As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 1:16 PM
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