To the editor:

Did you know that small actions – like listening to someone’s story or bringing a meal to a parent – actually make a big difference?

Research overwhelmingly proves that experiencing tough times, at any age, can create a high level of stress that impacts the development of the brain. Young children are especially sensitive to trauma, including child abuse and neglect, because their brains are growing at such a rapid rate. The groundbreaking Adverse Childhood Experiences Study showed that a high level of stress in childhood greatly increases the risk of poor health outcomes in adulthood including heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and depression. Child abuse also increases the risk of learning delays in school and lost productivity in the workplace.

Yet research also shows that the caring connections we build with the children and families in our lives have the power to change these outcomes. By supporting parents, we can help them manage stress, improve parenting skills, and heal from past traumas, so they can provide a more nurturing environment for their children. By supporting children, we are giving them the positive interactions they need for healthy brain development from the start.

This April, Webster County Family Development Council and Prevent Child Abuse Iowa invite you to join us in taking action to create great childhoods for all children. Plan a neighborhood activity, volunteer with our program, or make a donation in the name of child abuse prevention.

You can also join Webster County Family Development Council in celebrating Child Abuse Prevention Month by placing a pinwheel in your front yard for “Pin Wheels for Prevention.”

Together we can give children the foundation they need to reach their full potential and as a result, build a community that is safer, healthier and more prosperous overall.

Lyndsey Steck

Vice President

Webster County Family

Development Council

Fort Dodge