Intakes are a BIG part of our system! The new procedure was developed because the Board and Staff saw a need for improvement in serving Iowans with disabilities. In the few months we have been using this newly refined approach, we have served twice as many individuals than we did in the first six months of the calendar year. Here's how our new intake procedure works:

When an individual contacts our office for help, advice, or information concerning disability-related issues, they are first asked by our receptionist for basic information such as name, address, phone number, age, and a brief description of their concern. After obtaining this information, the receptionist directs the person, as well as their information, to one of the advocates on the Core Services team.

These advocates carefully listen to the person in order to determine how best we can serve them. Contrary to the intake operation in the past, when people call the agency today with issues and concerns, they will not always be talking with the same advocate. Many experienced people work together on the Core Services team to provide the best possible advocacy.

Advocacy within Core Services may fall into one of a couple different areas. At the heart of any P&A is Information/Referral and Short-Term Advocacy on non-priority issues. Information/Referral is just that: information on a question and referral to an organization specializing in the problem where further advocacy is necessary. Per our mandate, any advocacy over one hour is considered Short-Term Advocacy and may involve agency intervention which lasts from one hour up to 30 days, again, on all non-priority issues.

Priority issues, however, are the soul of every P&A organization and are handled as such. Rather than remaining in Core Services for any period of time, all priority issues go immediately to Priority Service teams for direct case advocacy.

With this new procedure, we are now serving Iowans with disabilities faster, with greater ability and with better advocacy. We know with Core Services in place that we can make ourselves more accessible to Iowans.

  Download IP & A Intake Form

Client Grievance Procedure