Nearly $1.3 million awarded to Iowa child abuse prevention efforts

Local child abuse prevention councils serving 82 counties will receive nearly $1.3 million for child abuse prevention service projects during the fiscal year starting July 1. More than 12,000 parents and 50,000 children will benefit from these services.

Financial support for these projects comes from the Iowa Child Abuse Prevention Program (ICAPP), which Prevent Child Abuse Iowa administers. Council services include home visiting, emergency or respite child care, parent classes and support groups, and sexual abuse prevention training. These services build “protective factors” in families by working with parents to manage stress, strengthen connections, access resources and learn parenting skills.

“Programs funded through ICAPP help parents receive the support, education and resources they need to provide safe, nurturing environments for their children,” said Kelly Davydov, ICAPP Director at PCA Iowa. “We are pleased to partner with so many dedicated leaders working to prevent abuse in communities across the state.”

In addition to managing ICAPP, PCA Iowa offers local prevention councils training and technical assistance.

“Many ICAPP grantees rely on passionate volunteers or part-time staff to lead prevention efforts in their communities,” said Davydov. “PCA Iowa strives to enhance their ability to be effective in providing quality services. These services can have a huge impact as children grow up free from abuse and empowered to reach their full potential as adults.”

Established by the Iowa legislature in 1982, ICAPP is supported by federal and state appropriations and birth certificate fees, which the Iowa Department of Human Services distributes. Iowans also give more than $60,000 each year to ICAPP through donations to Child Abuse Prevention on the state income tax return form.

For more information about ICAPP, visit www.pcaiowa.org/programs/icapp. To view this year’s grant recipients, visit this website or this ICAPP Grant Awards Map.