About Us

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Leslie Carpenter is an advocate for improving the treatment of people with serious brain illnesses in Iowa and across the United States. She believes that treating those with serious brain illnesses in a comprehensive and thorough manner leads to improved outcomes. To improve access to care for people with all levels and acuities of brain illnesses, a continuum of treatment levels and care facilities is needed  in settings that are appropriate at a given point in time.

Leslie practiced as a Physical Therapist for 34 years, and then retired early to have more time to advocate.   She also serves as an Adjunct Associate in the Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.

Leslie  serves on the NAMI Johnson County Board of Directors and as a member of the Advocacy & Outreach Committee.  She also teaches three of NAMI’s signature programs, Family to Family, Provider Training and Ending the Silence.

Leslie provides advocacy talks to a wide variety of groups to help educate people about brain illnesses, the barriers to treatment and the state and federal policy changes which can remove those barriers.

Scott Carpenter advocates for improving the way our government treats its most vulnerable citizens.  Iowa's broken Mental Health Care system endangers the lives of people who, through no fault of their own, are ill.  Attitudinal and structural changes can and must be made to remedy these shortcomings.  The nationwide inequities between physical and mental health care are simply unacceptable and must be changed.    

Scott Carpenter received a B.S. in Geology from St. Lawrence University in 1985 and a Ph.D. in Geochemistry from the University of Michigan in 1991.  Carpenter was a college professor / research scientist at the University of Texas and the University of Iowa.  He has taught a variety of classes at the undergraduate and graduate levels, presented scientific findings at numerous national and international conferences, and has authored numerous scientific publications in peer reviewed journals. Carpenter currently works for Olympus America’s Scientific Solutions Group. 

Over the last 13 years, the Carpenters have had to navigate all aspects of Iowa’s Mental Health Care System while seeking appropriate care for their son.  These experiences made it clear that sitting idle was not an option.