Partnering in Child Abuse Prevention Month

Everyone can play a part in preventing child abuse. Learn more from The Quad-County Community Partnership for Protecting Children.

Poverty is a risk factor in child abuse. Our work at Community Action directly impacts children and families. We are involved in child abuse prevention.

Some Community Action staff wearing Blue.

Number of children abused in Southeast Iowa in 2019:

Lee County – 224
Des Moines County – 208
Henry County – 106
Louisa County – 73 –PCAIowa

To find Iowa specific data on the numbers of abused and neglected children go to: DHS Statistics.

In the fiscal year 2020 report by CASA, of 2,627 identified barriers to foster child reunification with birth parents, 408 were family economic issues to include the lack of stable housing.

To read more how Iowa children fare in multiple areas of well-being, go to: Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count 2020 Iowa .

“The true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children.”
– Nelson Mandela

A body of research has identified factors known to prevent and reduce child abuse and neglect. These factors—including parental resilience, nurturing and attachment, social connections, knowledge about parenting and child development, social and emotional competence of children, and concrete supports for parents—are outlined in Protective Factors Approaches in Child Welfare.

For more information go to website to find additional resources: National Resources

The Center for the Developing Child at Harvard University distinctively explains that to understand the development of resilience one only needs to visualize a seesaw or balance scale. “Protective experiences and coping skills on one side counterbalance significant adversity on the other. Resilience is evident when a child’s health and development tips toward positive outcomes-even when a heavy load of factors is stacked on the negative outcome side.

lesa 3 — https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/inbrief-the-science-of-resilience-2/

The single most common factor for children who develop resilience is at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver, or other adult.

Much information herein came from the Iowa Child Advocacy Board newsletter.