County aids child abuse prevention

LOGAN, Iowa — According to statistics from Prevent Child Abuse Iowa, there were 109 accepted reports of child abuse in Harrison County in 2008. Of that 109, there were 28 confirmed cases with 50 children abused.

In an effort to combat these statistics, a new organization is being formed in the county. The Harrison County Prevent Child Abuse Council has as its goal the prevention of child abuse by addressing the needs in the community. Charlotte Lefeber, Community Partnership for Protecting Children Coordinator for Harrison, Monona and Shelby Counties, said these counties are possibly the last in the state to have an organized child abuse council.

“As a council we will be looking at what services are available and what needs, we think, are unaddressed in the community,” Lefeber said. “Some things we will be looking at are working with current parent education programs such as Learning for Life and extending parent education past the newborn to age 5 that Learning for Life focuses on and addressing needs from age 6 to 17.”

Lefeber will be compiling surveys and questionnaires to take into the community to get feedback from parents on what their needs are.

“To address community needs we really need to engage and involve the community to make sure we are bringing programs that will be helpful to parents,” Lefeber said. “I plan on trying to work with other community agencies such as the WIC clinic and schools to get this done.”

Lefber said that neighboring counties have active councils and have been able to reach numerous parents and children.

“Pottawattamie County served 248 children and 148 parents last year with parent education programs. They also educated 4,300 children through 224 presentations about sexual abuse awareness,” Lefeber said. “Pottawattamie County received $23,000 for sexual abuse prevention and $7,000 for parent education through Iowa Community Partnerships for Protection of Children.

The council in Harrison County held its second meeting earlier this month. At the first meeting there were representatives from Harrison County Public Health, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri Valley Police Department, Logan Christian Church and the Extension Office.

“Anyone who is interested is invited to attend,” Lefeber said. “I am working on meeting with other organizations and community members to get them interested and involved.”

According to Lefeber, Prevent Child Abuse Iowa manages Iowa Child Abuse Prevention Program funds that various councils are able to apply for to fund projects.

“Once the Harrison County Council is in the process of applying for 501(c)3 status, we will be able to apply for this funding,” Lefeber said.

Lefeber said that last year, out of the 99 counties in the state, only eight didn’t apply for ICAPP funding. Of that eight, five had applied in recent years and the three others, Harrison, Monona and Shelby Counties didn’t have an active council.

Lefeber’s position is an AmeriCorps position through Prevent Child Abuse Iowa.

According to Lefeber, Community Partnerships for Protection of Children is an approach that recognizes keeping children safe is everybody’s business.

“It’s an approach that neighborhoods, towns, cities and states can adopt to improve how children are protected from maltreatment,” she said.

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