Iowa Child Abuse Prevention Program

In 1982, the Iowa Legislature established the Iowa Child Abuse Prevention Program ("ICAPP"). This program receives federal and state funding to support child abuse prevention services throughout Iowa. With the recent addition of $200,000 in state appropriations to expand sexual abuse prevention, ICAPP currently receives more than $1.4 million in funding annually. Beginning in 2009, Iowa citizens filing their state income taxes will have the option of donating a portion of their tax refund to benefit this child abuse prevention program.

Local child abuse prevention councils throughout Iowa carry out the programs that the state appropriations fund. Each year, Prevent Child Abuse Iowa issues requests for proposals to which the local councils respond after determining which programs would best address the needs in their communities. An independent grant review committee evaluates these proposals and recommends how the state funds should be distributed. Their recommendations go to the Governor's Advisory Council on the Child Abuse Prevention Program, which makes the final decision on what funding councils receive.

For fiscal year 2010, local councils have received grants to develop and operate programs in one or more of five major areas in 92 Iowa counties: crisis nursery, parent education, respite care, sexual abuse prevention, and young parent support. Here is a map showing the location and types of ICAPP services.

The table below summarizes the services provided by the local prevention councils in fiscal year 2009:

ICAPP Service Descriptions

Crisis Nursery

Iowa's crisis nursery programs provide a temporary place for children ages birth to 12 years old to stay during times that their parents face overwhelming circumstances or emergencies. The programs are available to families 24 hours a day, seven days per week, for up to 72 hours at a time. Programs use licensed day care centers or registered day care homes for the actual provision of child care. Their staff conduct intake interviews, counsel parents, and arrange placements for the children. They may also provide transportation to centers and travel to pick up children.

ICAPP-funded Crisis Nursery Services are available in these counties:
Buchanan, Carroll, Fayette, Linn, Marshall, and Washington.

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Parent Education

Parent education programs teach families through both in-home and group-based instruction. Programs focus on the needs of both the parents and their children and work with families to increase their healthy interactions. They help families improve their communication and teach parents effective ways to manage their children's behavior. Programs also discuss child development and age appropriate expectations for children.

ICAPP-funded parent education programs are available in these counties:
Adair, Allamakee, Black Hawk, Boone, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cass, Cedar, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clarke, Clay, Clayton, Clinton, Crawford, Dallas, Decatur, Delaware, Des Moines, Dickinson, Dubuque, Emmet, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Hamilton, Henry, Howard, Ida, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Kossuth, Linn, Louisa, Lucas, Lyon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Mills, Mitchell, Monroe, Muscatine, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Story, Union, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Woodbury, and Wright.

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Respite Care

Respite care programs provide parents with temporary relief from care giving responsibilities, providing an "out" before the stresses of parenting build up and overwhelm a family. Services can be scheduled for set times or, in some programs, obtained on short notice. Respite care services also offer children care from trained staff in a safe environment and the opportunity to socialize with other children.

ICAPP-funded respite care programs are available in these counties: Adams, Audubon, Carroll, Clay, Clayton, Des Moines, Dickinson, Dubuque, Fremont, Greene, Guthrie, Humboldt, Kossuth, Linn, O'Brien, Osceola, Page, Palo Alto, Sac, Union, and Warren.

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Sexual Abuse Prevention

Sexual abuse prevention programs teach children how to protect themselves from sexual abuse and teach adults how to keep children safe from abuse. Instruction for children typically involves teaching them the appropriate names of their private body parts, discussing rules about who is allowed to touch their private parts and for what purpose, and helping children develop plans for keeping their bodies safe. Adult education, provided in home-based or group-based settings, teaches adults about sexual abuse and that the primary risk for sexual abuse comes from adults known to the family, and helps them identify actions they can take to keep children safe.

ICAPP-funded sexual abuse prevention programs are available in these counties: Adams, Allamakee, Audubon, Black Hawk, Boone, Bremer, Buena Vista, Butler, Carroll, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clarke, Clay, Clayton, Decatur, Des Moines, Dickinson, Dubuque, Floyd, Fremont, Greene, Grundy, Guthrie, Hardin, Howard, Ida, Jackson, Jasper, Jones, Lee, Linn, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Mills, Mitchell, Montgomery, Muscatine, O'Brien, Osceola, Page, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Sac, Scott, Sioux, Story, Tama, Warren, Wayne, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Woodbury, and Worth.

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Young Parent Support

Young parent support programs provide parenting education on topics like child development, age-appropriate expectations and discipline. They also provide the support that many young parents are missing through meetings with others in similar circumstances. And finally, they connect participants to concrete, community supports to ease stress, such as rent assistance, food, and clothing.

ICAPP-funded Young Parent Support programs are available in these counties:
Appanoose, Benton, Buchanan, Calhoun, Crawford, Des Moines, Fremont, Henry, Iowa, Keokuk, Lee, Mills, Page, Pottawattamie, Sac, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren, Webster, and Woodbury.

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ICAPP Reports

Annual Service Reports

PCA Iowa's annual reports on ICAPP are available. The annual report provides general program information and service statistics. The annual service evaluation provides county- and program-specific information about participant demographics, outcomes and feedback.

Quarterly Reports

After the end of each quarter throughout the state fiscal year (i.e., in October, January, April, and July), PCA Iowa prepares a report summarizing the year-to-date services provided by councils in all of the program areas. The most recent quarterly report is now available. Subsequent reports will be available throughout the year.

Please note that it is available in .pdf format, which requires Acrobat Reader to display.

Click on the Adobe Acrobat graphic to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

For general comments and questions, please contact:

Prevent Child Abuse Iowa
505 Fifth Avenue, Suite 900
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Phone: 515-244-2200
Toll Free: 800-237-1815
Fax: 515-280-7835
Email:

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