Since 2012, the Central Iowa ACEs 360 Coalition has brought together diverse partners to identify and seize opportunities for responding to the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. Our most recent strategic plan published in 2015 established our mission: to improve the health and well-being of all by empowering communities, organizations, and people to take informed actions to prevent and mitigate the life-long effects of childhood adversity.

Over seven years, our successes include releasing two Iowa ACEs reports, providing training and assistance for implementing ACE response strategies in several sectors, building our website into a hub for research and resources, offering ongoing learning opportunities, and advancing policies that increase awareness of ACEs and trauma-informed approaches.

This year, we worked with a consultant to establish our direction for the next three years. These conversations have affirmed our mission and identified a need to formalize how we approach our work to make greater progress.

We invite you to review our new strategic plan for the next three years!

As you review, please note our new direction in these areas:

• We will formalize our role as the backbone support for catalyzing a vibrant network of informed champions who can lead system and practice changes. Our focus will be on fostering and connecting many leaders who are working together, and independently, to address ACEs in innovative ways.
  
  
• While much of our work will continue to focus on Central Iowa, we will provide increased assistance to expand ACEs response efforts across Iowa when requested and continue leading the Iowa ACEs Policy Coalition. As a result, our name will become Iowa ACEs 360.
  
  
• We will expand how we distribute knowledge and connect the network, with greater focus on communications strategies.
  
  

As we renew our commitment to our mission, we are transitioning ACEs 360 into a formal 501(c)3 nonprofit. This structure will allow us to pursue new opportunities and dedicate greater resources to this effort. Lisa Cushatt will continue to coordinate this work as director.

Sign up for our newsletter to continue to follow along on our work as we prepare to release a new Iowa ACEs report with a Midwest ACEs Summit in June 2020. You can also check out our website at www.iowaaces360.org.