The longtime Judicial Mental Health Advocate for Jasper, Polk, and Marion Counties is going to be retiring effective January 2nd, 2025. The Jasper County Board of Supervisors have approved her temporary replacement.

Kelly Yeggy has spent 35 years working in the mental health field, and began providing mental health advocate services in Jasper County roughly 20 years ago. Yeggy told the Jasper County Board of Supervisors that the county has a special place in her heart.

“It’s been a pleasure working for the citizens of Jasper County. This county kind of has my heart out of the three. I moved her after all. Even with the death of my son the community got together and supported me, and I want to thank them.”

At the recommendation of Yeggy, the Jasper County Supervisors unanimously appointed her part-time assistant Brett Micheal to the full-time position until June 30th, 2025. Yeggy made the recommendation due to changes in the Mental Health system, and the elimination of Administrative Services Organization regions.

“Nobody quite knows where the Mental Health Advocate is going to fit into the new system. I would expect some legislation this session. But at this point in time I recommend going through June 30th and seeing where the system ends up.

In mid-May of this year Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law that consolidates the state’s 32 mental health districts into seven districts. The Governor has said the current system is “disconnected”, and this newer system will create a “unified behavioral health system” for the state.