[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 172 (Thursday, November 3, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                HONORING ANNE STARR AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CYNTHIA AXNE

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 3, 2022

  Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in recognizing Anne Starr who is the CEO of 
Orchard Place in Des Moines. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and 
I couldn't think of a better advocate and leader on mental health than 
Mrs. Starr.
  Orchard Place works closely with children and youth who have mental 
health illnesses, behavioral health challenges, battle substance abuse, 
suffer from trauma, and more. Through early intervention and 
appropriate care, Orchard Place is developing strong futures for 
children and their families. Orchard Place offers comprehensive mental 
health and behavioral health services designed specifically for 
children and adolescents. These services are delivered by compassionate 
and highly trained physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, 
residential treatment staff, and psychologists. Our behavioral and 
mental health services include mental health consultation, psychiatric 
therapy, residential treatment, outpatient mental health therapy, 
school-based therapy, social skill development, and many more great 
services.
  Anne Starr is a native Iowan, graduating from Fort Dodge High School, 
the University of Northern Iowa with a BA in Psychology, and from the 
University of Iowa with a master's in social work. She has been in the 
human services delivery field for more than 30 years. Her career began 
as a live-in direct care staff in a residential group care setting. She 
spent fifteen years as a mental health clinician at Iowa Lutheran 
Hospital, Orchard Place, and in private practice. During the past 20 
years, she has served in administrative roles as a Senior Vice 
President of Program and Policy for Mosaic with corporate headquarters 
in Omaha, NE; President and CEO of Buckhorn Children and Family 
Services, with corporate headquarters in Buckhorn, KY; and Executive 
Director of Hamilton County's Child Welfare Collaborative in 
Cincinnati, OH. Starr returned to Orchard Place as the CEO in March of 
2013. She has been involved in children's mental health and disability 
public policy and advocacy efforts across multiple states and at the 
federal level.
  Each year, Anne, and her team at Orchard Place work with around 8,000 
children and adolescents of all ages from all over Iowa who need 
individual help and support. Their goal is to help develop strong 
futures for children suffering from mental illnesses, behavioral health 
challenges, substance abuse issues, severe trauma, and more. Under 
Anne's leadership, she and her team have changed thousands of lives and 
made our community stronger and helped to destigmatize mental health. I 
will continue to fight in Congress to support leaders like Anne and 
organizations like Orchard place to ensure Iowans have access to the 
mental health care that they need. It is my pleasure to recognize Anne 
Starr as Iowan of the Week.

                          ____________________