Children's coalition honors area champions

MONTROSE  - Champions for children advocacy in Lee County were recognized Wednesday afternoon at the Lee County Career Advantage Center.
The event coincided with Child Abuse Prevention Month and served as an update on the progress of groups associated with the Quad-County Community Partnerships for Protecting Children.
Arin Jones, Coordinator for the Quad-County CPPC, said the event helps showcase the area efforts to bite into what are considered poor data around child abuse and neglect in the county.
Jones said a state and federal grant has allowed work to be focused in Lee County on bringing the county out of its last-in-the-state standing in child abuse and neglect. The county is currently 99th out of 99 counties and has been for several years.
But efforts are underway, thanks to the grant and the work of those associated with programs such as Child Abuse Prevention Council, Lee County Health Department, Empowering Families, and the Best You Coalition.
Only 19 counties in the state are eligible for grant funding and Lee County was one of the four counties to receive funds based on data and risk factors, Jones said.
“The grant is coming to an end, and now there’s some forward stuff going on,” she said.

Emily Biddenstadt, of LCHD, said a new round of grant funding has been awarded to the coalition so the good work being done in the area can continue.
Jones said a big focus now is looking at resilience and the biology of stress.
“The hope end is to build resilience to the stressors on physical health, social health, and educational health,” she said.
“And we can do that through building nurturing relationships that are stable and safe in a safe community. That’s why we we’re tying in the child champions.”
Jones said that 43% of children in Lee County are in single family homes which hits at the heart of financial stability for kids. Lee County ranks 95th out of 99 counties in that demographic with the state average at 32%.
The Child Champions recognized by the coalition on Wednesday included area School Resource Officers Allyson Dade of Keokuk PD serving Keokuk Community School District, Jeremy Boecker of Fort Madison PD at Fort Madison Community schools, and Kyle Haney of the Lee County Sheriff’s serving at Central Lee schools.
The Fort Madison school district was also awarded as a group for their partnership with the children’s collaborative including service to Parent Cafes, Poverty Simulations, and Handle with Care initiatives. Hoerner YMCA was honored for its service to youth and the free Teen Center program as well as contributions to the Child Abuse Prevention Council. Commercial Contracting Services of Keokuk was also recognized for its support of Keokuk Parent Cafes as well as partnerships with Best You Coalition, Empowering Families, and Lee County Health Department.
John McCannon. Christa Bronnenberg, Tervor McDaniel, Dara Sanders of West Point Public Library, and Lee County Supervisor Garry Seyb were all individually honored.