News : Benton County Introduces Rural Access Center

VPD Chief Paxton and Sheriff Ron Tippet cut the ribbon at the Rural Access Center Open House

The Benton County Law Enforcement Agencies in Benton County held an Open House at the new Rural Access Center (RAC) located in the old West School building in Vinton on Wednesday.

The Open House started with a flag dedication in honor of the Benton County Veterans. With nearly 40 veterans in attendance and area leaders and representatives of area law enforcement agencies represented, the ceremony began with a prayer by area veteran and former pastor Loel Fink. A plaque dedicating the flag pole to the veterans will be placed at the base of the flagpole at a later time. 

The following poem was shared and is a good reminder:

I am Your Flag

I am your flag. I am not a pennant, but a purpose; not a standard, but a symbol; not a banner but a belief.

I was conceived in justice, fostered by the love of liberty, and nourished by the desire for freedom. I am not a flag, but your Flag.

My fate is in your hands. I can rise equal to your highest hopes. I am indicative of your ideals and symbolic of your sacrifices in the preservation of Liberty, Freedom and Justice.

I am not a substance, but a shadow: The heroic spirit of all the great Americans... of Washington and Wayne, of Jefferson and Jones, of Calhoun and Carver.

I flew as proudly at Charleston as at Concord, at San Antonio as at San Juan Hill, at Iwo Jima as at Independence Hall.

I am a composite of a Nation's ideals and a denotation of its desires. I am Old Glory..... The Star-spangled Banner.... the Red, White and Blue.

I am what you believe me to be, and am nothing more. Love and respect me, then Freedom, Liberty, and Justice live.

Neglect me and we perish together. I am YOUR FLAG. My fate is in your hands.

-Author Unknown

The crowd present concluded the ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance and a closing prayer.

The RAC is a project that has placed Vinton on the radar of other communities in Iowa.  The first of its kind, the Access Center has made it possible to offer a collaborative approach to improve access to the mental health services need in the community.

The center offers a "living room model" for people to sit and share with those that are best suited to help them. The idea for a RAC began when the need was apparent that there were gaps in services that needed to be filled in the community. 

A need for transportation, affordable housing, temporary shelter, employment, education and training in mental health was apparent with most of the burden to find solutions falling on the shoulders of law enforcement. RAC was designed to help those in a crisis find a safe and inviting place to relax while their needs can be assessed.

The plan began to form when the "Stepping Up" initiative was launched signed by the Board of Supervisors in May of 2018. A Steering Committee was formed in September of that year and has created efficiency in various ways. The RAC is one of the biggest accomplishments. Officers can now have a resource that is available and can be used as a law enforcement liaison changing the way cases are processed reducing officer time and cost of transportation and responding to mental health calls throughout the county. Law Enforcement has access to the RAC 24/7.

If it is determined that there is no need for hospitalization a "warm hand-off" if made to the staff at RAC who will follow up, make referrals and assist with implementing needed services. The center is also available for anyone else in the community that can be assisted by any of the available services by simply walking in or scheduling a meeting. 

RAC also provides community resources for those in need of other services in the following departments:

Veterans Affairs

Rural Access Center

Foundation 2

Social Services

Mental Health and Disabilities Services

Sixth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services

Iowa Department of Human Services

Benton County Volunteers

Horizons Family Services

Vinton Food Pantry

Also housed on the premises are offices for:

Middle Cedar Watershed

Historic Preservation

Benton Development Group

There are still some barriers present that the program is still searching to find solutions for, including the need for housing opportunities, and transportation. The goal is to have the RAC staffed 24 hours a day, but that presents challenges including cost, logistics and how to staff the center.

The center provides several services. Included are: 

1. Assistance with filing for disability
2. Assistance with food stamps
3. Mental Health and Substance abuse evaluations
4. Assistance with medical coverage
5. Veterans benefits
6. Scheduling appointments
7. Arranging transportation
8. Tele-psych
9. Follow-up and reminder calls

The center also makes referrals including jail diversion, peer support, supported community living, Salvation Army, Housing which includes homeless shelters, IHH (Integrated Health Homes), medication, therapy and substance abuse.

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