Behind the scenes

This project is a partnership among the Central Iowa ACEs 360 Steering Committee, Trauma Informed Care Project and Developing Brain Group.  The project’s mission is to find a shared message about brain development and trauma, and to engage community members in building healthy relationships.  The project is coordinated by Prevent Child Abuse Iowa with extensive input and support from the following partners.

Funding Partners

  • Big Ten Conference Penn State Bowl Revenue Penalty funds distributed by the United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties on behalf of the University of Iowa

  • Central Iowa ACEs 360 Steering Committee - funded by United Way of Central Iowa

  • Jewish Family Services of Greater Des Moines

  • Mid-Iowa Health Foundation

  • Orchard Place

  • Blank Children's Hospital

  • The Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Iowa, supported by the National institutes of Health Clinical and Translational Science Awards program

  • Polk County Decategorization

  • United Way of Central Iowa

  • Polk County Board of Supervisors

 

Project Steering Committee

The following partners helped develop the Connections Matter message.

  • Amanda the Panda - Mollie Giller, Director

  • AMOS Iowa - Paul Turner, Lead Organizer

  • Blank Children’s Hospital - Kathy Leggett, Director of the Center for Advocacy and Outreach

  • Blank Children’s Hospital - Lana Herteen, Community Child Advocate

  • Central Iowa ACEs 360 Steering Committee - Lisa Cushatt, Program Manager

  • Child and Family Policy Center - Anne Discher, Communications Director

  • Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association - Hilary Burns, Training Coordinator

  • Orchard Place/Child Guidance Center - Gladys Alvarez, Trauma Informed Care Project Coordinator

  • Orchard Place/Child Guidance Center - Kristin Rodenberg, Early Childhood Therapist and Assistant Trauma Informed Care Project Coordinator

  • Orchard Place/Child Guidance Center - Nicole Beaman, Vice President

  • Prevent Child Abuse Iowa - Liz Cox, Executive Director

  • Prevent Child Abuse Iowa - Lucy Holms, Program Manager

  • Prevent Child Abuse Iowa - Sarah Welch, Communications Director

  • DART - Katie Stull

PCAIowa staff continuing the work by updating and developing Sector versions.

  • Greg Bellville, Executive Director

  • Martha Comfort, Connections Matter Program Manager

  • Kyle Conway, Director of Program Development

Supporting Organizations

The following organizations support the Connections Matter initiative:

  • AMOS - A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy

  • Bethany Christian Services of South Central Iowa

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa

  • Boys Town of Iowa

  • Building Direction for Families

  • Building Families

  • Cedar County Community Partnerships for Protecting Children

  • Child Abuse Council

  • EyesOpenIowa

  • Families Making Connections Floyd, Mitchell, Chickasaw

  • First Unitarian Church of Des Moines

  • Healthy Homes Des Moines

  • Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association

  • Jewish Family Services

  • Lee County Health Department

  • Life Connections

  • Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc.

  • Muscatine Community Partnerships for Protecting Children and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Muscatine County

  • New Opportunities Inc.

  • Polk County Decategorization and Community Partnerships

  • Polk County Health Department

  • Promise Partners

  • Youth Justice Initiative

To have your organization listed as a supporter, contact us.

Creative Partners

  • Dr. Linda Chamberlain, epidemiologist, founding director of Alaska Family Violence Prevention Project and consultant for the Family Violence Prevention Fund

  • Anna Lemons, graphic designer

  • Jon Lemons, photographer