Meeting Public Comments

Subcommittee meeting and times are as follows:

A bill for an act establishing a grant program for a nonprofit organization providing sexual assault forensic examination centers.(See HF 705.)

Subcommittee members: Cisneros-CH, Fisher, Gosa

Date: Monday, February 24, 2025

Time: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Location: House Lounge

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

Comments Submitted:

02-24-2025

Laura Christensen

I am a licensed social worker in the state of Iowa and work primarily with children who have experienced trauma or had system involvement. I think this program is great for adults, but this grant would overlap services for children that are already in place throughout the state of Iowa. Child Advocacy Centers across the state of Iowa currently provide expert and evidencebased services following best practice standards within the field. This grant will duplicate those services and create for confusion families and children.

02-24-2025

Zoe Hueser

I primarily work with children who have experienced trauma here in the state of Iowa. I support this bill as a great opportunity for adult victims, however, it raises concerns for overlap of services for child victims. Child Advocacy Centers in the state of Iowa currently provide expert and evidencebased services to children and families while following best practice standards within the field. This bill duplicates those services that's provided and would cause confusion to the children and families.

02-24-2025

Beth Allin

I am writing to express concerns regarding HF 458. Iowa currently has six child advocacy centers throughout the state, which are nationally accredited nonprofit organizations that provide sexual assault forensic examinations and interviews. In addition, these child advocacy centers (CACs) specialize in evidencebased, traumainformed practices to support child victims of abuse and their families. CACs are primarily funded through various federal and state grants. This bill proposes to duplicate services instead of focusing on funding established nationally accredited programs. I believe this should be a competitive grant so that established programs have the opportunity to access funding to better serve children and families.

02-24-2025

Jennifer Sleiter

I am writing in regard to HF458. I appreciate that you are increasing funding for victims of crime. I think this center will be a good resource for adult victims of sexual assault. However, as a medical provider and pediatric SANE nurse who has been working for over 20 years with children who have experienced trauma, I feel that as written, this bill would be a duplication of services that are already in place for children. There are currently child advocacy centers across the state of Iowa that are providing evidencebased and trauma informed services for children. thank you.