March is a month of transformation. It marks the shift from winter to spring, from heavy coats and sweaters to light jackets and short sleeves. Daylight saving time pushes us forward, and the weather, unpredictable as ever, can roar in like a lion and slip away like a lamb, or be a mix of both throughout its 31 days. March forces us to acknowledge that change is inevitable, no matter how much we may resist it. The flowers need it, the insects need it, the trees need it, and ultimately, we need it too.
As I reflect on these seasonal changes, I think about the transformations PCA Iowa has undergone over the past 50 years. We’ve had to evolve by refining our research methods, enhancing engagement strategies, improving educational approaches, and expanding outreach efforts. We’ve challenged outdated stereotypes about child abuse, shifting the conversation from individual cases to a community-wide responsibility where every child deserves to feel safe, nurtured, and protected from harm.
We’ve also redefined how we think about children themselves. They are not just smaller versions of adults; they have unique developmental needs. Understanding child and brain development, recognizing the importance of protective factors and caregiver education, and ensuring families have access to concrete supports have become essential underlying components of child abuse prevention.
March reminds us to embrace change with a fresh perspective and to envision the possibilities that lie ahead. What will the next 50 years of prevention look like for PCA Iowa? I can’t begin to predict. But I do know this: I dream of a world free from child abuse and I hold onto the hope that one day, that dream will become a reality.
Embracing change,
