Prevent Child Abuse Iowa

What Prevent Child Abuse Iowa does

Prevent Child Abuse Iowa (PCA Iowa) is an Iowa-based nonprofit founded in 1975 and operating as a state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America. Its mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect across all 99 Iowa counties, delivered through a network of more than 34 Prevention Councils, training and advocacy programs, public awareness campaigns, and its flagship "Connections Matter" curriculum. The Connections Matter program has been productized into multiple audience-specific versions spanning early childhood, faith communities, and workplace settings, and the curriculum has been adopted beyond Iowa into other states.

The organization is led by a small core staff of approximately eight and reaches an estimated 40,000+ children annually through its programming. It also hosts an annual statewide conference that draws roughly 500 participants. Governance is provided by a volunteer board, and operations are overseen by an Executive Director (Sharon Miller, appointed April 2023), with Amber Zylstra serving as Board President as of mid-2025.

PCA Iowa's revenue model combines individual donations, government grants (state and county), private foundation grants (e.g., Prairie Meadows, GreenState Credit Union), earned income from conference registrations, and merchandise sales. In October 2018 the organization received a $50,000 grant from Polk County, and in 2019 it received a $15,000 grant from Prairie Meadows. In the fall of 2025, the organization announced a succession partnership with Iowa ACEs 360, with PCA Iowa's operations scheduled to conclude on June 30, 2026 and its programs and mission transferring to the successor entity.

Name

Prevent Child Abuse Iowa

Legal name

Prevent Child Abuse Iowa

Website

https://pcaiowa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Prevent Child Abuse Iowa is a 1975-founded Iowa nonprofit and state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America that delivers child abuse prevention programming across all 99 Iowa counties through 34+ Prevention Councils, the Connections Matter curriculum, training, advocacy, and an annual statewide conference, serving Iowa children, families, and community stakeholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Safeguarding, Student Welfare & Child Protection Compliance Audits (EDADAGAI), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH)

Keywords

• Child abuse prevention
• Family support services
• Community education programs
• Nonprofit advocacy
• Trauma-informed training

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual and corporate donations from supporters passionate about child abuse prevention and family strengthening.
2. Grants: Government and private foundation grants including Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grant ($15,000), Polk County Board of Supervisors Community Development Grant ($50,000), and Iowa Department of Human Services funding for ICAPP and Connections Matter programs.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling merchandise including children's board books, t-shirts, pinwheel items, and Parry Protect card decks.
4. Conference Registration: Annual Child Abuse Prevention Conference with registration fees for professional development and training sessions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Prevent Child Abuse Iowa is a nonprofit organization that delivers child abuse prevention programming through evidence-informed curricula such as Connections Matter, statewide professional development conferences, awareness campaigns including Child Abuse Prevention Month toolkits, and coordination of a network of Prevention Councils across all 99 Iowa counties. The organization also distributes educational merchandise such as children's books and card decks and conducts legislative advocacy to advance child welfare policies.

Product overview

Prevent Child Abuse Iowa operates as a nonprofit prevention organization offering a portfolio of programs, educational resources, and awareness campaigns rather than a unified technology product. Core offerings include the Connections Matter program (evidence-informed trauma and resilience education), annual Child Abuse Prevention Conference, and various awareness toolkits. The organization also provides educational resources including children's books, the Parry Protect card deck, and interactive games like Talk-O Bingo designed to facilitate conversations about child safety and healthy relationships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Connections Matter Program An evidence-informed community-based initiative that educates the public on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), trauma, brain development, and resilience through workshops and trainings, with tailored versions for Early Childhood, Faith Communities, and Workplace settings.
• Child Abuse Prevention Conference An annual statewide professional development conference for prevention professionals featuring keynote speakers and educational sessions, delivered both in-person and virtually.
• Children's Board Book (Quirky) A board book for children featuring the Quirky the Bird character, designed to promote conversations about protective factors and child safety; sold through the organization's online store.
• Parry Protect Card Deck A card deck featuring characters from the organization's children's book with open-ended questions designed to spark important conversations about child safety and protective factors.
• TALK-O Bingo Game An interactive bingo game designed to facilitate conversations about sexual health, consent, and healthy relationships during Let's Talk Month in October.
• Child Abuse Prevention Month Toolkit Annual awareness campaign toolkit containing proclamations, talking points, videos, social media posts, and educational materials for Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaches 40,000 children annually through community partners
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Iowa ACEs 360coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Prevent Child Abuse Iowa and Iowa ACEs 360 have been working together to create a path forward for PCA Iowa's mission, partnerships, and prevention efforts following the announcement that PCA Iowa will conclude operations on June 30, 2026. Iowa ACEs 360 is expected to carry forward PCA Iowa's work.
• Polk County Board of SupervisorscoreOthers · 1 October 2018Awarded $50,000 Community Development Grant for Connections Matter program to support curriculum development for the business sector aimed at improving employee wellbeing through social engagement and mental health supports, with pilot projects in Des Moines businesses.
• Prevent Child Abuse AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPCA Iowa is the Iowa state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, receiving organizational support, national resources, and alignment with the national prevention network and Theory of Change framework.
• Maternal, Infant, Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting sponsor of the annual Child Abuse Prevention Conference. Federal program providing Iowa with opportunities to expand evidence-based home visiting services to children and families.
• Governor Kim ReynoldsminorOthersSigned Proclamation recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Iowa, demonstrating executive support for prevention efforts.
• Iowa Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor supporting the annual Child Abuse Prevention Conference.
• Blank Children's HospitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor providing pediatric healthcare services and support for the annual conference.
• Lutheran Services in IowaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor providing early childhood education, behavioral and mental health services. Also Community Hero award co-sponsor.
• Boys TownminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor providing in-home family counseling, healthcare, and school rebuilding programs.
• Broadlawns Medical CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor providing acute care hospital and mental health services.
• St. Gregory Recovery CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor and Community Hero award co-sponsor providing substance abuse recovery services.
• Iowa Department of Human ServicescoreOthersState agency partner providing ICAPP funding, mandatory reporter oversight, and coordination on child welfare policies including the IDPH/DHS Alignment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Healthy Families America: Evidence-based home visiting program for at-risk families operated by Prevent Child Abuse America. Directly comparable in its parent education, family strengthening, and ACEs-prevention approach through a national affiliate network.
• Darkness to Light: National nonprofit dedicated to ending child sexual abuse through evidence-informed training (Stewards of Children) and adult education. Comparable in its focus on adult-facing training, facilitator networks, and prevention curricula.
• Childhelp: National nonprofit working on child abuse prevention, treatment, and advocacy through education programs, a national hotline, and residential services. Comparable in mission scope and donor-supported nonprofit model.
• Zero Abuse Project: National nonprofit focused on preventing child sexual abuse through education, survivor support, and institutional reform. Comparable in its training programs for mandatory reporters and child protection professionals.
• National Children's Alliance: National accrediting body and membership organization for Children's Advocacy Centers serving child abuse victims. Comparable in its state-chapter network model and policy advocacy work on behalf of abused children.
• Parents as Teachers: National nonprofit providing parent education and family support through home visiting and evidence-informed curricula. Comparable in its focus on early childhood, family strengthening, and state-affiliate delivery model.

Others

• Child Welfare Information Gateway: Federal information clearinghouse on child welfare, abuse prevention, and family support. Comparable as a national resource hub for child welfare professionals, families, and policymakers.

Broad incumbents

• Prevent Child Abuse America: National parent organization of which PCA Iowa is the Iowa state chapter. Directly comparable mission (child abuse prevention, advocacy, education) and operates the national Theory of Change framework that PCA Iowa implements locally.

Emerging players

• Sesame Street in Communities: Educational outreach initiative providing trauma-informed, family-facing resources for vulnerable children. Comparable in its development of free toolkits, educational content, and multi-channel community engagement for families.
• Iowa ACEs 360: Iowa-based nonprofit focused on Adverse Childhood Experiences that is publicly designated to carry forward PCA Iowa's mission, partnerships, and prevention efforts after PCA Iowa's June 2026 wind-down. Closest functional successor and direct programmatic peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PCAIowa
• Facebookfacebook.com/pcaiowa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pcaiowa
• Instagraminstagram.com/pcaiowa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Prevent Child Abuse Iowa