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Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention Program |
Legislative AdvocacyPrevent Child Abuse Iowa's 2010 Legislative Agenda
Prevent Child Abuse Iowa asks the Iowa Legislature to extend Iowa’s income tax checkoff for child abuse prevention. The income tax checkoff was first established by the legislature in 2008 for two years and is subject to being discontinued if not extended in the 2010 legislative session.
In its first year (tax year 2008), this checkoff has raised more than $55,000 from generous Iowans to help prevent child abuse before it occurs. Revenue from the checkoff is distributed to the statewide Iowa Child Abuse Prevention Program (ICAPP). Enacted in 1982, ICAPP offers services for children and families in more than 90 counties through a network of local child abuse prevention councils.
ICAPP annually provides more than 10,000 parents and other adults with appropriate and timely social support, crisis/respite child care and education to reduce the risk of child abuse for 60,000 Iowa children. Social support breaks down the isolation that many parents experience and helps them build the connections they need. Crisis/respite child care enables them to survive periods of high stress. Education helps parents learn how to communicate effectively and manage better their children's behavior. Education also teaches parents and children how to reduce the risks of child sexual abuse.
The income tax checkoff will supplement approximately $1.3 million funding that ICAPP currently receives from a variety of state and federal revenue sources. Checkoff revenue will help ICAPP sustain its support for children and families throughout Iowa in a time of state budget challenges. The legislature should invest in preventing child abuse before it occurs by extending the income tax checkoff to benefit the Iowa Child Abuse Prevention Program. |
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For general comments and questions, please contact: Prevent Child Abuse Iowa
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