Our Promise to You
Your Journey. Our Promise.
We promise to provide you a safe place that promotes healing. We promise to treat you with dignity and respect. We promise to help you find your own solutions and achieve your goals. We promise to be with you throughout your journey.
At Prelude Behavioral Services, everything we do is inspired and guided by our mission, vision and values. These principals are the foundation of the beliefs and actions of all of our employees every day.
Getting Started
What to Expect
Here's what you can expect when entering into substance abuse, problem gambling, or mental health services at Prelude.
- You will be warmly greeted by a staff member.
- You will be recognized as an expert on yourself.
- You will have a comprehensive assessment to clearly identify your needs.
- You can expect the strictest confidentiality for all information you share with us.
- You will leave us with your needs addressed and a recommended follow-up plan.
Patients continuing services beyond an assessment/evaluation can expect that:
- You will be assigned an individual counselor.
- You will be involved in the development of a treatment plan which will identify steps toward achieving your personal goals for change.
- You will be encouraged to have family and other support systems involved in your journey.
- You will be an active participant in your treatment.
- You will be offered individual, group, and family therapy.
- You will be assisted in achieving success by our professional clinical staff.
- You will receive the highest quality of care and evidence-based treatment that has been researched and shown to be the most effective.
Rights & Responsibilities
Rights
As a patient of Prelude Behavioral Services and its programs, you are assured the following items. If you feel any of these rights have been violated, please contact your counselor, supervisor of the program or email info@preludeiowa.org.
- The right to privacy.
- The right to report any dissatisfaction and grievances.
- Advance notification (when possible) and an opportunity to reschedule your appointment or conceal your presence, if visitors are scheduled to be in a Prelude facility.
- Freedom from any form of abuse, retaliation or humiliation.
- Access to pertinent information in sufficient time to facilitate your decision making.
- Informed consent or refusal or expression of choice regarding:
- Service delivery
- Release of information
- Concurrent services
- Composition of the service delivery team
- Involvement in research projects, if applicable
- Timely access to information.
- Access and/or referral to: legal entities for appropriate representation, self-help support services, and advocacy support services.
- Investigation and resolution of alleged infringement of rights.
- Adherence to research guidelines and ethics when clients are involved, if applicable.
- All rights and protection afforded you under the federal confidentiality guidelines, including 42 CFR and HIPAA.
- Equal opportunity. Prelude does not discriminate in its practices on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disabilities, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, or any other characteristics protected by local, state, or federal law.
- Opportunities to have continuing contact with family and friends.
Responsibilities
To receive the best possible outcomes from services, our patients are expected to:
- Read (or be read), understand, and comply with the program rules and expectations.
- Provide full information regarding any treatment, including all types of counseling/therapy, medications, and/or hospitalizations.
- Actively participate in the treatment planning and counseling process.
- Attend all activities as agreed upon with staff and indicated on the treatment plan.
- Keep scheduled appointments or cancel at least 24 hours in advance.
- Pay assessed fees, as agreed, in a timely manner.
- Provide a fluid and/or breath sample for substance screening upon request.
- Maintain the confidentiality of the program and of other patients at all times.
- Inform staff of any medications being taken.
- Refrain from possessing or using weapons.
- Refrain from illegal activities.
- Refrain from the use of any illicit drug, alcohol, other substances or medications not approved.
- Refrain from sexual involvement with other patients.
- Refrain from violent or abusive behavior, including physical or verbal threats or acts towards patients, staff, or property.
- Refrain from bringing any animals, except service animals, onto program property.
A complete review of all your rights as a client of Prelude will be done upon first entering services.
Religion & Culture
We encourage patients to pursue their spiritual interests. We recognize that this may include a continuation of current involvement in religious practices, a re-examination of beliefs and practices not currently pursued, or an examination of spiritual interest not previously considered.
Prelude does not align itself with any particular religious tradition or belief, and therefore does not provide for any religious practices at our facilities. We will, however, make accommodations in residential scheduling to allow patients to participate in religious activities.
Family Visits
Family members are an important part of the support system and continued success for those in recovery and are encouraged to participate in scheduled visits and family programming.
Visiting Our Residential Treatment Units
Visiting hours are posted at each residential and halfway facility or you may call the numbers below. To ensure patient safety and confidentiality, we require that patients sign a written consent authorizing the participation of family members and significant others. Visitation occurs in designated areas of our facilities and visitors are not allowed to enter client rooms. During visitation, patients are expected to remain in the facility or in the outdoor areas designated for patient use.
When visiting for the first time, family members and loved ones will receive a packet of information outlining the rules and requirements for visitations. These rules include the following:
- Any item brought into the facility for a patient will be searched.
- Any medications for the patient must be in original packaging or prescription bottle and turned over to staff.
- Food for special occasions may be brought into our residential facilities but the food must be sealed from a bakery or grocery and there should be a sufficient amount to share with all patients.
- Visitors creating a disruptive or unsafe environment may be asked to leave the facility and property.
- Patients are not allowed to leave the facility and enter a vehicle.
- Tobacco use is not allowed on any property owned by Prelude Behavioral Services, including parking areas and grounds.
To ensure the safety and well-being of our clients, staff, and visitors, we ask that the following items not be brought to any of our properties:
- Drugs and/or alcohol
- Clothing with language and/or graphics depicting drug, alcohol, or gambling activities
- Pets
- Weapons of any kind
- Tobacco products of any kind, including e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco
Questions about visiting your loved one? Call us at 515-262-0349 (Central Iowa) or 319-351-4357 (Eastern Iowa).
What to Bring
To help prepare you to enter services, we provide a listing of suggested items to bring with you. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us.
What to Bring to Your First Visit
When you arrive at Prelude for your first visit, we ask that you bring with you:
- A picture ID, if you want a urinalysis test
- Insurance information
- Proof of Income (W-2, paystub, tax return will work)
- Seeking Services Forms
If you do not have any of these items, don’t worry! We’ll work with you to identify how to get the needed items once you arrive.
Packing For Residential Treatment
The following are suggested items to pack for treatment when entering our residential and halfway programs.
Medications
If you are currently taking prescribed medication, please bring a 30-day supply at the minimum. Medical staff will review all prescription and non-prescription medication during the course of your treatment stay. All prescription medication must be in its original container. Please bring any over-the-counter medications you anticipate needing. All medications will be kept in secure storage. Staff will assist you in receiving your medications at designated times. Please note that we may be unable to admit you if you do not bring a 30-day supply of your medications.
Clothing
7 days change of clothes (no clothing with drug, alcohol, gambling, or bar slogans), plus pajamas, robe, and slippers. Due to limited space, please minimize the amount of clothes you bring. Bring plastic clothes hangers if you wish to hang your clothing; our bedrooms have small closets. When the weather permits, our patients enjoy getting outdoors for an occasional walk and fresh air. To participate, bring weather-appropriate outerwear.
Personal hygiene items
Non-aerosol, non-alcohol soap, deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, feminine hygiene products, shaving items. Disposable razors (no straight/removable blades), tweezers, nail clippers/files, curling irons, and hair dryers are allowed. These will be placed in secure storage; use of these items will be monitored by staff.
Alarm Clock
Please bring your own alarm clock if you would like one. We have a few on hand, but they are available on a first come, first serve basis only.
Phones
Phones are available for local and long distance calls.
Tobacco Products
Every program of Prelude is tobacco free. This includes all tobacco products and e-cigarette devices. Nicotine cessation is highly encouraged and the Prelude staff can help you make a plan to quit. We do allow nicotine replacement therapies that are FDA approved for assisting in tobacco cessation. You are encouraged to bring your own NRT (patches or lozenges only, no gum) for the duration of your stay.
Physical & TB Test
You are required to have a physical and tuberculosis (TB) test conducted no more than 90 days prior to admission or within 5 days of admission. If you have had a physical or a TB test recently, please bring documentation. If we are unable to obtain verification of a physical or a TB test prior to admission, you will be required to have one within 5 days.
Iowa City – In our Iowa City location, we will make arrangements with the Iowa City Free Medical Clinic for uninsured clients. The Free Medical Clinic will provide this service at no cost for residents of Johnson County and for $20 for uninsured non-Johnson County residents. Patients with Medicaid (TXIX) or private health insurance will need to provide a current physical or bring $75 to have one completed at an urgent care clinic.
Des Moines – In our Des Moines location, we will make arrangements with Primary Health Care. Primary Health Care will provide this service for $20.00.
MP3 and other portable music players
These devices are acceptable, provided they do not have the ability to record in any way, including pictures, videos, or voice. Devices with these capabilities will be placed in secure storage and returned when you complete your stay with us.
Cars
If at all possible, please leave your vehicle at home, as parking space is limited. If bringing a vehicle is unavoidable, we request proof of a valid driver’s license, registration, and car insurance. Vehicles on Prelude property will be searched by Prelude staff to ensure safety.
Linens
Staff will provide you with one set of linens and a towel and washcloth for your stay. To help keep our facilities free of bed bugs, patients are not allowed to bring their own linens, blankets or pillows.
Letters
Please bring letter writing materials, including stamps, if you would like to write letters during your stay.
Money
Prelude will provide a place to lock up your money. We advise leaving valuables at home. You may wish to bring change for pop. We do not keep change on hand for these purposes.
Cell Phones
Cell phone use is not allowed while in residential services. Should you choose to bring a phone, please understand that it will be locked up during your stay. You may request access to your phone if you need to obtain contact information.
Other Items
Space in our residential units is limited. Please pack carefully and minimally. Due to limited space, please be aware that items abandoned for more than one week will be donated or destroyed.
The following items may NOT be brought to Prelude:
- Weapons or tools
- Cigarettes, E-Cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and any other form of tobacco
- Food or beverages, candy, gum
- Marking pens, white-out
- Butane products, lighters filled with liquid fuel
- Cameras
- Razors with removable blades
- Hairspray, perfume, cologne, mouthwash, astringent, finger nail polish or polish remover
- Drug paraphernalia
- Glue, paint
- Diet aids
- Glass containers
- Cell phones, pagers, computers
- Pets
- Personal linens, blankets or pillows
Cost of Services
Prelude Behavioral Services is a not-for-profit agency that prides itself on providing access to everyone seeking treatment. All fees for services are due at the time of service.
During your first visit, a staff member will work with you to find the appropriate financing option that best fits your needs, including establishing a payment plan.
Patient Payment
Prelude accepts personal checks, money orders, cashier checks, credit cards (VISA and Mastercard) and cash payments. Easy online payments can be made using a credit or debit card or PayPal.
Insurance
Prelude Behavioral Services is a provider for many insurance companies. Be sure to bring your insurance information with you to each visit. You are also encouraged to contact your insurance carrier to check on your policy’s coverage before your first visit. Prelude is a provider for Title XIX (Medicaid). Prelude is not a provider for Medicare. Persons covered by Medicare will be asked to apply for financial assistance and/or provide full payment for services.
Financial Assistance
For those who qualify, financial assistance for services is available. A financial assessment of resources and/or insurance is completed during your first visit. To be considered for financial assistance, please bring with you the following information for each person supporting your household:
- Payroll stubs from the previous month or most recent payroll stubs.
- Income verification from The Workforce Center.
- Documentation of other income, including but not limited to FIP, rental income, social security, unemployment, etc.
Financial assistance helps our clients get access to the best in care. Charitable donations make up a portion of that aid.