Abuse doesn’t just hurt in the moment — it can change a life forever

MT. PLEASANT — Abuse can happen at any time to anyone. Whether abuse begins in childhood or adulthood the damage caused can last well after leaving it behind. That reality hangs heavy for many as counties across the state and nation, including Henry County, make proclamations declaring April both Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month.

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Together, the proclamations bring these important topics into the conversations of people in a variety of roles. One vital health message stands true among these conversations: trauma can shape long-term physical and mental health, but community support, prevention, and intervention can change the story.

“We know they’re out there,” Rachel Long, a sexual assault advocate with the Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) and Rape Victim Advocacy Program (RVAP), told supervisors about survivors in Henry County. “We just want to get word to them that we’re here and we’re there to support them.”

Long, who serves Henry and Des Moines counties, said her role is to walk alongside survivors every step of the way — from the first call to the 24-hour crisis line through hospital visits, forensic exams, court proceedings, and long after.

“My job as an advocate, working for your county, is we do everything from the first call, whether they call the crisis line … we're there with the survivors from the time they're doing their [forensic exam] at the hospital all the way through court hearings,” Long said. “And then it could go on after that, if they still need that meeting with us to discuss what they can do.”

Since DVIP and RVAP merged in October 2024, the agency has served 58 clients and provided more than 600 services across its region.

But raising awareness in rural areas like Henry County remains a challenge, Long said. That’s why her agency is hosting Shop for Survivors, a donation drive April 16 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Hy-Vee and Fareway stores in Mt. Pleasant, Burlington, Keokuk, Fort Madison, and Washington.

While much of Long’s work as an advocate focuses on response and support for survivors, work to prevent trauma from happening in the first place remains front and center.

Arin Jones, who coordinates Community Partnerships for Protecting Children (CPPC) through the Henry County Extension Office, told supervisors about local efforts to strengthen families and prevent child abuse by building protective networks of support.

“We work with lovely supporters and council members and advocates in our community all the time on a child-based prevention bill,” Jones said.

Jones organizes stakeholder meetings that often bring together local representatives — from law enforcement to schools to faith leaders — all focused on creating safer, healthier environments for children.

“I appreciate the board,” Jones added during the meeting. “The more we can collaborate and connect people and resources in our community, the stronger our prevention efforts become.”

Supervisors Chair Marc Lindeen praised Jones for bringing together diverse groups to tackle child welfare collaboratively.

“You get close to 20 [stakeholders] sometimes, more,” Lindeen noted. “It shows the commitment of this community.”

Henry County’s local prevention efforts, through programs like Healthy Henry County Families, include home visits for new parents, parenting education, and peer support groups. These programs are built around research showing that parental resilience, social connections, and access to basic resources reduce the risk of abuse and neglect.

“Families who receive the support they need before a crisis occurs are better equipped to provide safe, healthy, and nurturing environments,” the county’s proclamation reads.

Health experts have long known that abuse and neglect are not only traumatic — they’re physically harmful. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Iowa’s 2024 ACEs Report shows a powerful connection between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and chronic disease, mental illness, substance abuse, and even early death.

“As the number of ACEs an individual experienced increases, so does the likelihood of adopting risky behaviors, having poor health and mental health, and struggling in school and at work,” the Iowa ACEs 360 report notes.

These effects are not just emotional scars — they show up in doctor’s offices decades later as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, addiction, and mental health disorders.

In Iowa, the data is staggering:

62% of Iowa adults report experiencing at least one ACE.

Nearly 20% report four or more ACEs — a level associated with severe health risks.

Adults with 4+ ACEs are more than five times as likely to report poor mental health and twice as likely to report conditions like asthma or chronic lung disease.

But the health impacts of sexual abuse and assault — regardless of a person’s age when it happens — are equally severe.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), sexual assault survivors are significantly more likely to experience:

Chronic pain

Gastrointestinal disorders

Migraines

Sleep disturbances

PTSD

Depression and anxiety

Substance abuse disorders

Survivors of sexual violence are also at increased risk for long-term physical health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity — often linked to the body’s stress response and coping behaviors like substance use or disordered eating.

One study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that survivors of sexual violence are three times more likely to suffer from depression and twice as likely to experience chronic pain compared to those without a history of assault.

Sexual violence can also create barriers to health care access as survivors may avoid medical settings due to trauma triggers, increasing the risk of undiagnosed or untreated conditions.

“While ACEs can affect future well-being, they don't have to,” Iowa ACES 360 states. “Emerging research shows that positive childhood experiences stemming from caring relationships and connections in the community reduce the impact ACEs can have. Using intentional strategies, we can build the environments that foster healthy development, as well as create system change that leads to an equitable community.”

This is true for the health impacts experienced by sexual abuse survivors, as well.

Despite the staggering impacts of ACEs, experts stress that prevention and intervention work.

According to the CDC, reducing ACEs could result in:

44% fewer adults experiencing depression

24% fewer adults with respiratory conditions

15% fewer unemployed adults

Positive childhood experiences — like stable relationships, feeling safe at home, and having trusted adults — can buffer even the most traumatic events.

Henry County’s efforts in April — from raising awareness to supporting survivors and strengthening families — represent a holistic, public health approach to preventing trauma and promoting healing.

As Long told supervisors: “We're living and working in our counties that we're serving. We just want people to know that we’re here.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com