Speaking for the unheard: Legislative trends, challenges, and progress in Iowa mental health policy
Leslie Carpenter
Iowa Mental Health Advocacy
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FEBRUARY 6, 2026 | 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids
** in-person event **
Leslie Carpenter will share the recent legislative changes intended to improve the delivery of mental health and substance use treatment in Iowa, some of the challenges in getting other legislation passed, and the bills proposed for the 2026 session here in Iowa.
You may make your reservation to attend in-person (no lunch) by clicking on the "Register Now" button. There is no cost for this option, but we must have your RSVP to ensure we have enough seating. You are welcome to bring your own lunch.
If you have any issues registering, please email info@interfaithallianceiowa.org or call 515.279.8715.
ABOUT OUR PRESENTER | Leslie Carpenter is the Legislative Advocacy Manager for the Treatment Advocacy Center, a co-founder of Iowa Mental Health Advocacy, and a lobbyist in the Iowa Legislature.
A retired physical therapist, Leslie now works to improve the mental illness treatment system. She serves on the NAMI Iowa Board of Directors and teaches three of the NAMI Signature Programs, her most recent emphasis on NAMI Provider Training. Leslie provides advocacy presentations to a wide variety of audiences to help people understand the causes of the mental health crisis, to humanize it, and to share practical solutions.
Leslie successfully led an effort in Johnson County to create Iowa’s first AOT (Assisted Outpatient Treatment) Program in conjunction with Iowa’s first Civil Mental Health Court. She also serves on multiple advisory boards and committees as a family member with lived experience, including the National AOT Advisory Committee, to help improve the treatment of people with serious brain illnesses.
Leslie and her husband, Scott, have two adult children, one of whom lives with a severe Schizoaffective Disorder. Leslie and Scott received the Isabel Turner Award from the Iowa City Human Rights Commission in 2020 for their advocacy work, and Leslie also received a Corridor Business Journal “Woman of Influence” award in 2024. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy from Russell Sage College.
Intersections is a monthly gathering of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa in Cedar Rapids. It's an opportunity to learn, to participate in civil dialogue, and to discuss issues at the crossroads of religion and politics.
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403