Johnston Residents Named to Iowa Suicide Prevention and Trauma-Informed Care Task Force

Press release from the Iowa Department of Education

Iowa Department of Education Director Brad Buck today announced the 23 Iowans who will serve on a state task force to develop suicide prevention and trauma-informed care training requirements for Iowans who are licensed by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.

The Iowa Suicide Prevention and Trauma-Informed Care Task Force was established as part of Senate File 446.

The task force will meet for the first time on Friday, Sept. 20. The meeting will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. in Room B50 of the Grimes State Office Building. Meetings are open to the public.

For more information on state commissions and task forces established by state legislators during the 2013 session, visit the Iowa Department of Education’s website.

Members of the Iowa Suicide Prevention and Trauma-Informed Care Task Force are as follows:

Jake Highfill, State Representative, Johnston

Karolyn Zeller, School Social Worker, Heartland Area Education Agency, Johnston

Gladys Noll Alvarez, Trauma-Informed Care Coordinator, Orchard Place, Des Moines

Barb Anderson, Consultant, Iowa Department of Education, Des Moines

Penny Bisignano, Consultant, Iowa Department of Education, Des Moines

Sarah Brown, Bureau Chief, Iowa Department of Education, Des Moines

Brian Carico, Indianola High School Principal and School Administrators of Iowa Representative, Indianola

Deb Chiodo, Principal, Cornell Elementary School (Saydel Community School District), Des Moines

DeAnn Decker, Bureau Chief, Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines

Amy DeGroot-Hammer, Sioux City West High School School Counselor and Iowa School Counselor Association President-Elect, Sioux City

Mary Delagardelle, Associate Division Administrator, Iowa Department of Education, Des Moines

Meredith Dohmen, Counseling Coordinator, Des Moines Public Schools, Des Moines

Cyndy Erickson, Iowa Safe and Supportive Schools Grant Director, Iowa Department of Education, Des Moines

Sharon Guthrie, Executive Director, Iowa School Nurse Organization, Cedar Rapids

Laura Larkin, Program Planner, Division of Mental Health and Disability Services, Iowa Department of Human Services, Des Moines

Liz Mathis, State Senator, Cedar Rapids

Isaiah McGee, Consultant, Iowa Department of Education, Des Moines

Marianette Miller-Meeks, Director, Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines

Steve Mitchell, Licensure Consultant, Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, Des Moines

Keri Neblett, Community Intervention Director, The Crisis Center of Johnson County, Iowa City

Ellen McGinnis-Smith, Consultant, Iowa Department of Education, Des Moines

David Tilly, Deputy Director and Division Administrator, Iowa Department of Education, Des Moines

Susan Walkup, Consultant, Iowa Department of Education, Des Moines