Research has shown that there are five protective factors that can make positive outcomes more likely for young children and their families and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. Those factors are:
As a community we can work to build up these protective factors for all. Learn more here.
All newborn babies that live in Henry County are eligible for a nurse visit free of charge to share information on health, safety, parenting, growth and development, community resources and assistance with referrals. Telephone reassurance is also available. A visit can include any or all:
We can schedule a visit whenever it works for you and we don’t have to meet at your home. Call Mandi to find out more and schedule a visit at 319-385-0779.
Are you breastfeeding? Mandi is a certified lactation specialist and can help you find success and answer any questions.
We can’t do all the work ourselves. We partner with and support other community organizations working to promote healthy families in Henry County. Learn more about our community partners below:
The Family Connection provides early childhood educational programs designed to improve the health and well-being of pregnant women, parents, and their children ages 0-5. The Family Connection follows the nationally recognized Parents as Teachers curriculum. Personal visits are the foundation of The Family Connection program. During a personal visit they will:
Group connections are offered on a monthly basis in both Henry and Washington Counties. Please follow The Family Connection Facebook page for county specific information about groups.
While participating you can earn points to redeem at Parents Place for diapers, wipes, baby shampoo, baby clothing, and other basic baby supplies.
All Family Connection programs are free of charge to Henry and Washington County residents with children ages 0-5, pending availability. Funding for The Family Connection is provided by a grant from Early Childhood Iowa.
The Family Connection is a program at the Henry County Extension Office. Call Amy McLaughlin at 319-385-8126 or email famconnection.2021 @ gmail.com for more information.
Cradle of Hope is located inside the E3 Center at 1400 E. Washington St., Mt. Pleasant. Call 319-986-5336 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome.
Cradle of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center offers free pregnancy testing, consultation on all of your options, limited ultrasound, ongoing pregnancy support, referrals for community support services, support after an abortion, a fatherhood mentoring program, and their Earn While You Learn Program.
The Earn While You Learn Program offers a wide range of classes that are tailor-made to fit each client. They have classes on pregnancy, labor & delivery, breastfeeding, first year, toddler years, parenting, life skills, positive partnerships, co-parenting, love lessons including STI education, special circumstances, fatherhood, Bible Study, and more! This program allows you to earn points to spend in their fully stocked Baby Boutique. This Boutique is stocked with baby necessities, including cribs, car seats, diapers, wipes, clothing, baby furniture, etc., up to age 2.
Whether you are finding yourself in an unplanned pregnancy, happily pregnant, single or married, or have already had your little one – Cradle of Hope is here for you! All services are free and confidential.
Learn more at cradleofhopeiowa.com.
Parent Partners mentor families who are currently navigating through the HHS Child Protective Services system as their children are in foster or kinship care. Parent Partners are people who have gone through the experience of having their children removed from their care, and have successfully been reunited.
They can offer hope, realistic advice, and advocacy for families. In addition, they form a critical link between the Agency worker, other professionals, and the family.
Parent Partners is a program of Iowa HHS. Please ask your HHS caseworker for a referral or contact Stacy Zachmeyer, Parent Partner Coordinator, at 319-371-9128.
CPPC is a program at the Henry County Extension Office. Contact Arin Jones at 319-385-8126 to find out more or visit their Facebook page.
CPPC is a community-based approach that strives to support families in order to keep children safe from abuse and neglect.
The Henry County Child Advocacy Council serves as the shared decision making board for CPPC. They meet the 4th Thursday of each month from 12-1:30pm with part of the meeting focused on child abuse prevention strategies and the other part an interagency meeting to share and learn about other agencies serving Henry County. Everyone is welcome! They are also part of the Quad-County Community Partnerships for Protecting Children.
ACEs – Trainings available to raise awareness of ACEs and how to prevent or mitigate the effects.
Connections Matter – Relationships help us learn better, work better, parent better. With each connection, we develop a healthier, stronger community.
Poverty Simulation – An interactive immersion experience to help community participants understand the realities of poverty.
Stewards of Children – Child sexual abuse prevention training for adults.
Call Arin Jones at 319-385-8126 for more information about any of these trainings.
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ parenting website is a great place to go for the most recent information on all kinds of topics, including breastfeeding, giving medication to children safely, and whether or not your child should be using electronic devices. healthychildren.org
View product recalls and safety alerts through the Consumer Product Safety Commission at cpsc.gov or their Facebook page.
Did you know? Iowa’s Medicaid providers offer programs that reward you for healthy activities! Check them out here: Iowa Total Care, Molina, Wellpoint
Find a variety of great articles, blogs and more at the National Association for the Education of Young Children website.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that can dramatically upset a child’s sense of safety and well-being. Learn more about ACEs and their impact at iowaaces360.org
Parents Under Pressure – The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health & Well-Being of Parents
