Quad-County area focuses on child abuse prevention

Des Moines, Henry, Lee and Louisa county communities have declared April National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

This month and throughout the year, Quad-County Community Partnerships for Protecting Children (CPPC), in partnership with the County Child Abuse Prevention Councils (Des Moines County CARES, Henry County Child Advocacy Council, Lee County Child Abuse Prevention Council, and Louisa County CPPC Planning Council,) encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making the Quad-Counties a better place for children and families.

County supervisors in each of the Quad-Counties signed a proclamation in March recognizing the need to focus on prevention in April. By ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills and resources they need to care for their children, we can help promote the social and emotional well-being of children and youth and prevent child maltreatment within families and communities. We believe that “Protecting Children is Everyone’s Business.”

Protective factors are the strengths and resources families draw on during difficult times to shield them from life's stresses. Research shows that when parents possess protective factors, the risk for neglect and abuse diminish and optimal outcomes for children, youth, and families are promoted.

Major protective factors include knowledge of parenting, knowledge of child development, parental resilience, social connections, and concrete supports. The Quad-County CPPC and partners work to increase protective factors in area families while decreasing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): events during childhood that can cause long-term, negative physical and mental health issues and affects brain development and the development of abilities needed to be contributing, successful citizens and parents in adulthood. Iowa ACEs 360 is an excellent source for more information surrounding these negative experiences and how protective factors help to buffer those long-term, ill effects.

Through Iowa Child Abuse Prevention Program grants submitted by the Councils and administered by Prevent Child Abuse Iowa, additional child abuse prevention efforts are moving forward year-round in specific counties.

In Lee County, Empowering Families is run out of the Public Health Department. Burlington Community School District houses Des Moines County Resiliency and Resources, a committee focused on preventing homelessness and assisting area families who are struggling with the problem. The Family Connection in the Henry County Extension Office uses the grant funds to provide parent support groups to connect parents to resources, evidence-based information, and peer support.