I found myself very concerned for the woman who wrote you as “Conflicted”.  As I read the article I heard from a young woman who is very conflicted in life and could benefit from someone who is being supportive and nonjudgmental.  For any person who is questioning their sexuality they often are confronted with values and morals that have been taught to them and the stigma attached with being gay, lesbian, transsexual and transgendered.   She is also struggling with her identity as a black woman and seems hopeless about her future.  

I did not feel it was appropriate to simply dismiss these concerns and simply tell her to develop goals.  I think this article was a wonderful opportunity to help educate the community that when someone has no insurance or financial resources to pay for counseling there are still options available in the community.  This woman could really have benefited from you responding in a way that provided her with hope and I think counseling would be of assistance to her.    

Concerned Individual

Dear Concerned,

You are absolutely right.  This is the ideal opportunity to let Conflicted and others know about the Black Hawk Grundy Mental Health Center.  Their many services are offered on a sliding fee schedule according to ability to pay.  Just one option is outpatient services for children, adolescents, adults, couples or families who need guidance, counseling, and/or medication to cope with various life problems.

The professional staff includes psychiatrists/neurologists, consulting psychiatrists, psychologists, an advanced registered nurse practitioner, community support specialists, an elderly services coordinator, school based mental health coordinators for at risk youth, homeless program outreach specialists, a men’s mental health specialist, a sex offender treatment specialist, a corrections transition specialist, a recovery/peer support coordinator, a patient assistance coordinator, and registered nurses.   

Check out the Black Hawk Grundy Mental Health Center’s website at  HYPERLINK "http://www.bhgmhc.com" www.bhgmhc.com to learn about all the services they offer, and almost anything else you might want to know about them.  You can reach them by phone in Waterloo at (319) 234-2893 or 800-583-1526, or by fax at 319-234-0354.  The address is 3251 West 9^th Street, Waterloo, IA 50702.   

They have a satellite office at Grundy County Memorial Hospital, 201 E. J Avenue, Grundy County, IA 50638; phone (319) 824-5421.  The Mental Health Recovery Center is located at 501 Sycamore - Suite 730, Waterloo, IA 50703.  Phone (319) 433-1445, or fax (319) 433-1446.