HC kids gets board?s attention

By BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

It was Arin Jones, of Community Partnerships for Protecting Children (CPPC), who had the floor for most of this month?s Healthy Henry County Communities (HHCC) board meeting, which was held on Tuesday afternoon. Jones gave the board a brief update on Henry County?s CPPC organization, hitting on some of the county?s needs in regards to children.

?One of our main goals is to reduce some of the common adverse childhood experiences that studies and reports tell us are common among children in Henry County,? Jones explained. ?Safe housing and a need for good childcare are definitely some of the major things that we know Henry County children need right now.?

Jones went on to say that for years, Henry County has lacked a variety of options for services like quality, affordable daycare. Along with that, Jones and her staff are also looking at ways to offer more parent education classes to help improve the safety of children within the home.

?Part of the CPPC?s initiatives that we have developed do focus on increasing parental awareness through education and developing better relationships with other community partners in the Henry County area,? Jones said.

Jones cited organizations like Community Action of Southeast Iowa, The Family Connection, The Fellowship Cup and many local faith-based organizations that have increased or continued their partnerships with CPPC to offer education and intervention to families and children who are in need, or at risk for child abuse and neglect.

At its core, CPPC is a state and federally-funded program that focuses on child protection by working to reduce the amount of child abuse, neglect, re-abuse and home displacement within communities in Iowa. CPPC also works closely with foster children to promote healthy and timely family reunification when it?s in the best interest of the child.

Long-term, CPPC works to change cultural norms or habits that contribute to child abuse, neglect or home displacement.

According to annual statistics from 2014, released by the Iowa Department of Human Services, there were 7,429 children that were reported as subjects to abuse or neglect last year. Of those children, 1,266 were subject of a confirmed abuse. A confirmed abuse is minor, isolated, and not likely to re-occur, and the perpetrator is not placed on the child abuse registry. Forty-nine percent of abused or neglected children were age five or younger, which is similar to past years.

Of all confirmed child abuse or neglect cases in Iowa last year, 70 percent reported a neglect (denial of critical care), which is a reported decrease from prior years. Twelve percent of those cases reported physical abuse, seven percent was reported as sexual, and nine percent of those reports included a presence of illegal drugs in the body of the abused child.

?This past year, I think our local CPPC has been making great strides in a lot of the programs and initiatives that we have implemented,? said Jones. ?Reports are showing that we are making progress in certain areas of child health, but we know there are still others that need work. It?s these areas that we are still formulating ideas and programs to improve,? Jones said.

Besides an update from Jones, the board also discussed possible future fundraisers. The organization?s most recent fundraiser, a kickball tournament at East Lake Park, was ultimately cancelled due to a lack of pre-registered players and volunteers.

This has not necessarily been the norm for HHCC?s recent fundraisers and the organization is not in any major financial danger at this time. However, Travis Johnson, Henry County Community Health Director, did comment on what he felt should be the board?s attitude to raising funds.

?We have about a $3,000 per year need to pay for things like insurance and audit fees (as part of HHCC). But we have to keep in mind those things cannot be paid for via a grant. That money has to come from our general fund,? said Johnson. ?While our general fund is fine right now, we don?t want to get into a bind a few years down the line. That?s why we need to be in the habit of fundraising.?

Board member Paul Dennison did mention approaching organizations like local Kiwanis clubs or Rotary clubs to ask for small donations to HHCC, but did caution the board not to step over any boundaries in doing so.

?A lot of local clubs do give money to organizations like ours. I think it?s something we could look at for small financial donations, but we need to be careful that we don?t step on other people?s toes,? said Dennison, pointing out organizations like The Fellowship Cup and Community Action of Southeast Iowa that also ask for some funding from these types of area clubs.

While the HHCC didn?t move to inquire about donations from local clubs at this time, they did take time to discuss a myriad of other topics, including the following:

? HHCC?s Healthy Halloween Walk is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 18, from 2 to 5 p.m., at East Lake Park.

? Board member Cherry Sandeen issued her resignation from the board due to scheduling conflicts. Sandeen was serving as the HHCC board secretary. Board member Sarah Berndt will now serve as secretary for the remainder of Sandeen?s term.

The next HHCC?s board meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 1 p.m., at Henry County Health Center?s Health Education Center.