Regional Child Protection Center

The House Public Safety Committee was fortunate last week to have representatives visit from the Regional Child Protection Center at Blank Children’s Hospital. This clinic provides examination and assessment of abused children and works closely with law enforcement and the court system to help protect abused and neglected children.

In 2010, Iowa had 12,595 children confirmed as being abused. Over 50% of these victims of child abuse were under 6 years old. Iowa’s Child Protection Centers operate under a nationally recommended, multi-disciplinary model incorporating the Department of Human Services, law enforcement officials, county attorneys, victim advocates and medical and mental health professionals.

The folks at the Regional Child Protection Center do a tremendous job with these children who are exposed to heart-breaking abuse. Treating and caring for victims of child abuse should be a priority for state government.

Iowa Air National Guard

Several other legislators and myself had the privilege of spending this morning at the Des Moines International with the 132nd Fighter Wing (F-16C Fighting Falcon) and the 185th Air Refueling Wing (KC-135E Stratotanker) of the Iowa Air National Guard.  The highlight of the morning was our trip in the KC-135 refueling tanker on a training mission with four F-16′s.

These squadrons have played a key role in our nation’s war on terror and are an tremendous asset to our community.