Molina Healthcare of Iowa (“Molina”) in collaboration with The MolinaCares Accord (“MolinaCares”) announced a $50,000 grant to the Coalition for Family and Children’s Services in Iowa to close gaps in behavioral healthcare for providers throughout Iowa. The pilot program will create a cohort of practitioners equipped with trauma-informed tools to address the immediate needs of youth experiencing complex behavioral health situations.
In January, the Coalition conducted a provider needs assessment to identify common statewide gaps affecting child welfare and behavioral health providers. Among the findings was the need for evidence-based training in Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (“TBRI”). The model is designed to meet the complex needs of children and youth who have experienced early adversity, toxic stress, abuse, neglect, or relational trauma. The approach ensures the child’s body and brain are regulated through the meeting of their physical and biological needs; it creates a safe environment where children build trust with their caregivers; and it provides a calm and clear structure rather than harsh punishment.
MolinaCares funding will support implementation of a statewide TBRI Champion Initiative, beginning with the training of a cohort of six TBRI Champions. Champions will model TBRI practices within their organizations, support peer learning, and help reinforce consistent approaches across teams and service systems.
“Iowa’s child- and family-serving professionals regularly support young people whose behaviors are rooted in trauma, disrupted relationships, and unmet needs,” said Kristie Oliver, executive director of the Coalition for Family and Children’s Services in Iowa. “TBRI offers a practical framework for strengthening trust, connection, regulation, and feeling safe. By developing TBRI Champions within member organizations, we can support meaningful practical change that extends beyond one training or one individual. We are incredibly grateful to Molina and MolinaCares for believing in this vision and investing in Iowa’s children, families, and provider workforce.”
“Molina’s collaboration with the Coalition presents an opportunity to bring proven solutions to scale, and we are proud to support the expansion of TBRI throughout the state,” said Jennifer Vermeer, plan president of Molina Healthcare of Iowa. “The MolinaCares grant gives practitioners the knowledge necessary to bring calm and clarity to challenging situations that benefit both the patient and provider.”
About The MolinaCares Accord
Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc. in 2020, The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities. The MolinaCares Accord funds such measures through The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc.
About Molina Healthcare of Iowa
Molina Healthcare of Iowa, Inc. provides government-funded, quality health care, serving members through the Medicaid program in Iowa. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and through state insurance marketplaces. For more information about Molina Healthcare of Iowa, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.
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