Disability Rights Iowa Finds Inadequate Mental Health Treatment At State Training School For Boys

The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) State Training School for Boys at Eldora fails to provide appropriate mental health treatment to the adjudicated youth housed at the secure juvenile justice facility. The 130-bed facility houses about 120 youth between the ages of 12 and 18; about two-thirds have been diagnosed as having a serious mental illness and are prescribed psychotropic medications. However, the facility does not provide evidence-based mental health services to residents besides medication management, and the facility staff over use restraint and seclusion as disciplinary tools.

Further, the state lacks regulations that govern the . . .