The Stepping In It Podcast with Renee Schulte & Jason Haglund

In this special on-the-ground episode, we’re coming to you live from Anchorage, Alaska at the National Association of Rural Mental Health Conference—moose sightings, state fair stories, and all. From the icy beauty of Chickaloon overlooking the Matanuska Glacier to villages with no roads along the Bering Strait, rural takes on a whole new meaning here. We unpack what true community orientation looks like in some of the most remote ...

Welcome back—and hold onto your pitchforks—because even the whiny farmer is feeling the pressure. With family farm bankruptcies up 55% over last year and no signs of slowing down, it’s a reminder that these are challenging times for leaders across every industry. In this episode, we go back to the basics of leadership. We explore how to stay steady when everything around you is shifting, why burnout and misalignment are hitting rec...

Imagine a world where we didn’t fund mental health services—where Medicaid comes with work requirements, SAMHSA loses a billion dollars, and vital programs like CCBHCs vanish. In today’s episode, we kick things off with our whiny farmer intro (because even rural folks feel the cuts) and then dive into the real-life consequences of slashing support for mental health care. From Arkansas to Iowa, we explore the impact of Medicaid work...

In this episode, we dive into the complicated and often chaotic state of healthcare delivery in Montana—with a whiny farmer intro and a serious question: why don’t we have corn ice cream in the Midwest? From emergency departments overwhelmed due to a lack of psychiatric beds, to the legislative push for expanded forensic capacity at Warm Springs, Montana's behavioral health system is under strain. We unpack the data, discuss w...

Thanks for joining us—still hauling corn, but progress has been made! Just in time to plant this year's crop… and just in time to plant seeds of change in Nebraska’s mental health policy landscape. In this episode, we sit down with Amanda McGill from Nebraska Cures and James Bowers from NAMI Nebraska to talk about their collaboration following the Nebraska Mental Health Convening. We dig into why these two organizations joined...

Welcome back—still corn to haul and somehow still in the middle of planting… and if that doesn’t sum up hospital life during a crisis, we don’t know what does. In today’s episode, we explore the critical yet often complicated role families play when a loved one is hospitalized, especially in behavioral health and addiction-related crises. Research is clear: family support significantly improves patient outcomes. But navigating that...

Welcome back, and thanks for joining us—yep, it’s that time again: planting season, fixing everything for it just to break again… and that’s not just on the farm. In this episode, we’re digging into the escalating issue of workplace violence in hospitals. From chaotic emergency room scenes to underreported assaults on staff, we uncover what workplace violence really looks like and why it’s often swept under the rug. Backed by start...

In a fragmented healthcare system, hospitals have the unique opportunity to lead as conveners—bringing together providers, community organizations, and first responders to improve patient outcomes. This episode explores how strong partnerships can transform systems of care, from telehealth integration to warm handoffs and safety planning. We break down key findings from the 2024 Joint Commission/PEW Survey, revealing the gaps in co...

As mental health and addiction services surpass basic healthcare concerns in rural communities, Emergency Departments have become the default access points for pediatric behavioral health care. In this episode, we explore the growing role of EDs as makeshift access centers—offering screening, referrals, and pre-treatment support for children and youth in crisis. With data showing that non-acute behavioral health referrals are drivi...

Emergency Departments are overwhelmed with behavioral health patients, many of whom face long waits, inappropriate referrals, and a lack of clinical pathways for care. In this four-part series, we dive into the growing crisis of mental health care in EDs, starting with the system-wide backlog that leaves patients boarded for hours—or even days. This episode explores firsthand reports from local listening sessions, the stark rise in...

Does it feel like your clutter is taking over and impacting your mental well-being? You may have been told to simply clean up and get organized, but the stress and overwhelm persist. The frustration and anxiety of living in a cluttered space can be exhausting, leaving you feeling drained and disheartened. It's time to understand the real impact of clutter on your mental health and find effective strategies to create a peaceful...

In this episode, we unpack key insights from the VitAL Alabama Conference in collaboration with the National Association of Rural Mental Health (NARMH) held in Tuscaloosa. From Johnny Manziel’s story of resilience to Dr. Ashley Norwood Strickland’s approach to ensuring mental health access in rural areas, we explore the diversity of rural America and the unique mental health challenges faced by first responders, farmers, and justic...

Are you aware of the valuable benefits your employer provides? Discover the secret resources that could be helping you with therapy, counseling, and even financial support. But what happens when the very program meant to assist you suddenly disappears? Tune in to find out.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Discover the importance of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) in creating a supportive and mentally healthy workpla...

In this episode, we sit down with Courtney Ackerson, a licensed clinical mental health counselor and the president-elect of the American Mental Health Counselors Association. Courtney shares insights into the work of the Iowa Mental Health Counselors Association (IMHCA), their legislative priorities, and the pressing mental health needs in Iowa. We also discuss the importance of joining professional organizations and how counselors...

What does a Legislative Agricultural Summit have to do with rural mental health? In this episode, we share insights from the State Agriculture and Rural Leadership (SARL) summit, where the intersection of agricultural policy and rural well-being took center stage. Kicking off with a whiny farmer intro (featuring a custom crustbuster bin tool), we explore the summit’s key events—from the World Food Prize to enlightening sessions on ...

In this episode, we explore the complex conversation around rates in healthcare. Starting with a whiny farmer intro (because selling corn isn’t all that different from setting rates), we dive into the tangled web of contracted rates, delayed payments, billing headaches, and operational inefficiencies. Are rates truly the issue, or is there a deeper problem? Drawing on real-world examples, including outpatient clinics struggling to ...

In this episode, we dive into the evolving role of Administrative Service Organizations (ASOs) in Iowa’s healthcare landscape. Starting with a whiny farmer intro (hauling corn struggles included!), we discuss the new statewide ASO spearheaded by the Iowa Primary Care Association and the critical updates outlined in their winning proposal. We'll unpack the new access standards and behavioral health rules introduced by Iowa HHS,...

Join us for a deep dive into the challenges of implementing evidence-based therapy practices in real-world settings. We’ll explore proven methods like Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Multi-Dimensional Family Therapy (MDFT), and Functional Family Therapy (FFT) and discuss why these approaches, despite their strong data and effectiveness, often face barriers in adoption. From the misalignment of reimbursement systems to the ...

As the 2025 legislative session heats up, we’re unpacking the key priorities shaping mental health policy for the year ahead. From the challenges of re-aligning Medicaid systems to the pressing need for a comprehensive kids’ mental health framework, we’ll discuss how these issues impact individuals and families. Dive into data from the Kaiser Family Foundation and explore advocacy agendas from organizations like NAMI Iowa, CAMHI4Ki...