The 2021 Iowa Legislative Session kicked off last week at a time when the needs of families are great. The pandemic and the inequities it furthers for low-income Iowans and Iowa communities of color and the systemic discrimination that continues to disenfranchise our neighbors all mean we have much work to do to create systems that prevent trauma to Iowa’s children and families.

Over the past few months, Iowa ACEs 360 has partnered with local coalitions and organizations to hold advocacy engagement sessions. These sessions were specifically focused on hearing directly from partners across the state on the systemic changes needed to prevent and mitigate the impact of trauma on families.

Developed with the guidance of the Iowa ACEs Policy Coalition, the 2021 Legislative Agenda is bold, with a core focus on drawing the link between our priorities and protecting families from trauma. This agenda, more than any previous year, is a direct reflection of what we heard from around the state.

Click here to view the 2021 legislative priorities as well as reports from our regional engagement sessions.