To the editor:
Did you know that simple moments with the kids in our lives — like cooking with them, playing a board game with them, even singing with them — make a big difference? It helps them grow up feeling safe and secure and fills our communities with compassionate, caring people, which makes us all stronger and healthier.
High levels of toxic stress in childhood can have a profound impact on a child’s developing brain, increasing the likelihood of problems throughout a lifetime, including depression, diabetes and heart disease.
An Iowa study of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) found that more than half of Iowa adults have experienced at least one type of abuse or household dysfunction while growing up.
However, social supports and caring connections can strengthen families, mitigating the negative outcomes of childhood trauma and reducing the risk of child abuse or neglect. That is why the Dallas County Children’s Advocacy Council works to build caring connections in Dallas County, Iowa.
Through this effort, we can let everyone know that fostering connections with the children in our lives matters, and that goes a long way to developing healthy minds and strong communities.
This April, the Dallas County Children’s Advocacy Council and Prevent Child Abuse Iowa invite you to join us in taking action to advance this message through individual or community engagement. Attend a community workshop or host a training on Connections Matter, an evidence-based framework on implementing trauma informed practices.
Reach out to a neighbor, help out with a youth group, volunteer with our program or support our continued work through a donation in the name of child abuse prevention.
You can also join Dallas County Children’s Advocacy Council in celebrating Child Abuse Prevention Month or contact the Dallas County Children’s Advocacy Council to learn more.
Together we can give our children the foundation they need to reach their full potential and, as a result, build a community that is safer, healthier and more prosperous overall, because connections matter. Learn more at www.connectonsmatter.org.
The Dallas County Children’s Advocacy Council
