Who We Are

Prelude Behavioral Services is a not-for-profit, CARF-accredited, organization providing comprehensive substance abuse and behavioral health services to Iowans for the past 48 years. Prelude is licensed by the Iowa Department of Public Health to provide substance abuse and problem gambling treatment services and is accredited as a mental health care provider through the Iowa Department of Human Services.

Prelude was founded in 1969 in Iowa City as the Johnson County Citizens Committee on Alcoholism. The name of the agency was changed to Mid-Eastern Council on Chemical Abuse in 1978 and to MECCA SERVICES in 2011. A regional facility was opened in Des Moines in 2000 and satellite locations have been added to provide access to services throughout central and eastern Iowa. Bernie Lorenz Recovery became a program of MECCA in 2007, providing services specifically designed for women in recovery and provided in a home-like environment.  On February 1, 2015 MECCA officially changed its name to Prelude Behavioral Services. The name Prelude was selected because its meaning reflects our mission of opening doors to new beginnings.

Prelude provides a full continuum of substance abuse services to Iowans, including prevention and early intervention, evaluation, detoxification, outpatient and residential treatment, halfway and transitional housing, and case management. Since 1984, Prelude has also offered general mental health counseling and has administered an Employee Assistance Program for Iowa businesses through its Synchrony Services program. Prelude began providing problem gambling prevention, education, and treatment services in 2007.

Today, Prelude provides treatment services to more than 5,000 Iowans each year – a diverse clientele representing all income levels, social strata, ethnic origins, and occupations. Prelude is committed to serving hard-to-reach and disenfranchised populations and to breaking down barriers that hinder access to behavioral health care for all Iowans.

Each year, Prelude publishes an in-depth report summarizing the past year’s fiscal activities. These annual reports highlight data for the year, including number of individuals served, drug of choice, number of hours of prevention services, financial outcomes and acknowledgement of Prelude’s Board of Directors and donors.

Prelude’s annual reports are available to download by clicking on the following links:

Specific information about Prelude’s finances is available on our Form 990, the information return that tax-exempt organizations file annually with the Internal Revenue Service. Form 990 is filed following an extensive audit process performed and certified by an external auditing firm.

Prelude’s IRS Form 990 is available to download in .pdf format by clicking on the following links:

Prelude provides a financial statement from a certified independent auditor every year as a part of its annual report.

To review current and past financial statements, click on the following links:

Prelude Behavioral Services maintains a strong and effective Board of Directors. It is the board’s responsibility to set strategic direction for the agency, to ensure that the agency has the resources necessary to successfully fulfill its mission, and to ensure that the agency is in full compliance with all legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements.

Prelude’s Board of Directors is a volunteer role. To be considered, please download our on-line application.

For questions about board involvement, email [email protected].