Who Is In Charge Of Child Protective Services In North Lee County Iowa

Editor'due south Note: This is the beginning in a 3-part serial looking at the state of child maltreatment in Lee County. Await for the 2nd and 3rd parts Thursday and Friday.

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG
PCC EDITOR

LEE Canton – Co-ordinate to data from state and federal child welfare officials, Lee County ranks last out of 99 counties in Iowa when it comes to kid neglect, and in the bottom twenty counties for kid abuse.

According to a Lee County Resilient Communities Needs Cess that pulled data from the 2019 Iowa Child Maltreatment Prevention Needs Cess, Lee County ranks 99th out of 99 counties. The same maltreatment survey showed Lee County 79th out of 99 counties for child corruption.

The Resilient Communities assessment was funded in part through a state grant that likewise provides for a five-year salary for Breanna Kramer-Riesberg, through the Lee County Health Department.

The grant was awarded in July of 2020 and Kramer-Riesberg was brought on board in August of that yr. Then LCHD subcontracted with Shelley Oltmans, a community development specialist with ISU Extension. Oltmans is as well the executive director of the Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce. The grant is guaranteed for ii years at $76,000 per yr and is renewable for an additional three years.

Kramer-Riesberg said the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Lee Canton has been in place for several decades, but correcting generational child maltreatment is a procedure that requires diligence and patience.

"I wouldn't say the programming has been ineffective past no means. This is a really difficult issue to impact," she said.

"There'southward a lot of stigma associated with substance abuse, poverty, and the risk factors involved – there's even a lot of stigma and embarrassment involved in request for aid. I think every parent feels like they could be meliorate for their kids – so how can nosotros support them in doing that."

Fail is defined past welfare officials as lack of activeness by a care provider. Abuse is an act by the parent or caregiver, Kramer-Riesberg said that's an important distinction to brand at the start.

"Maltreatment includes both. Nosotros're talking about meeting a child's bones needs. Historically this has been a concern for Lee County," she said.

"Merely information technology'southward a procedure and information technology's certainly non going to happen overnight. There's no magical solution to this."

Co-ordinate to a 2020 report from the Iowa Department of Human being Services, Lee County had 259 cases of reported neglect, 148 instances of a child having a dangerous substance (92nd of 99 counties), xix cases of physical corruption, 44 cases where there was presence of illegal drugs in the child's system, 18 reported cases of sexual corruption, 3 instances where a registered sex offender had admission to a kid, and i instance of child trafficking – for a full of 492 reported incidents.

She said the issue has to be taken in by the community, in this instance Lee Canton, and there has to be coordinated efforts in many different areas with dissimilar services and support to meet it head on.

"We have to break this really strong chain and cycle and it'due south hard to do," Kramer-Riesberg said. "The good thing is nosotros have had fantastic community members that have been pushing this for years. They are passionate about it and continue to do prevention piece of work even if the impact isn't noticeable in the numbers."

1 of the biggest hurdles Kramer-Riesberg has discovered in the starting time yr of the grant program is that parents are humble about asking for help. She said at some level everyone tin utilize support.

"Every parent needs help. Whether it's from friends or family, or the nutrient pantry. And just because y'all inquire for help doesn't hateful you lot aren't trying," she said.

"Sometimes it ways you lot have tried everything you know and it hasn't worked. Don't be afraid to ask for advice and to ask for help. Your kids volition option up on your efforts to acquire and grow, and they will do the same. They will be less fearful in asking you or teachers for help – it's a ripple effect."

As part of the grant programme, community input is big role of the process and Kramer-Riesberg said she is looking for any and all ideas from county residents.

"How tin nosotros improve community back up for one some other? What do people demand help with? How tin agencies go far easier for people to enquire for help? How tin can we increment awareness of the resource available in Lee County?," she said.

"I highly encourage any one who wants to learn more about what nosotros are doing, or has input to share to call LCHD at 319-372-5225 and ask for, or email me."

Her email is at bkramer-riesberg@leecountyhd.org.

A county survey conducted this twelvemonth generated approximately 300 responses. Kramer-Riesberg said those were predominantly completed by white females so it's a small subgroup of the demographic. But she said it did provide important input for the strategic plan phase.

Nigh 50% of the respondents said they had or may have feel financial insecurity in the past yr. 75% said they had or perhaps had experienced mental health issues such as stress or depression.

Adjacent month, an Empower Families Workgroup volition be starting a strategic planning procedure based on data from the survey and other reports that has been synthesized by Oltmans.

Part of that procedure volition be highlighting some of the strengths that Lee County has including a wide array of programs and attempt related to the identified concerns of child maltreatment and protective factors.

Participants in a surveys already conducted in the county said in that location is a need to build on the strength of existing child maltreatment prevention efforts and programs, such as LCHD'southward 1st 5 Good for you Mental Development Initiative.

The program is a collaborative try to help new parents navigate their child'southward mental well-existence for the outset five years. More information on that program and the more than 14 countywide resources for parents and children, click here: http://leecountyhd.org/index.php/comm/1st-v-healthy-mental/resources/

Kramer-Riesberg said she is hopeful that the numbers tin undergo a correction, merely it will accept a coordinated and collaborative effort to proceeds ground.

"I am optimistic that nosotros won't ever see these numbers. It does come back to several factors. The generational poverty, mental wellness, admission to health care , cultural factors, and limited economical growth opportunities," she said.

"It's not just i factor that leads to abuse and neglect, it'south a lot of factors working together. I hesitate to say we would see these numbers forever."