Meet our new program manager, Colleen Theis!

We’re excited for you to meet Colleen Theis, our new program manager at Prevent Child Abuse Iowa! On just her 2nd day in the office we were able to sit down with her and ask some questions!

What should people know about you?

My favorite adventure is anything that get’s me outside. We’ll end up in Duluth, MN or Decorah, IA. Tent camping at Ledges or near Waterloo in the fall. Just being outside.

I have three children. Two daughters in college and a son in middle school. We’re a house divided: one daughter is at Iowa State University (ISU) and the other is at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). My son jokes that he’ll go to the University of Iowa, but he can go anywhere he wants.

Professionally, I don’t like monotony. I like to be out and about. As an Healthy Families America reviewer I got to travel frequently and visit lots of different sites and what they do and how they do it. Sharon (PCA Iowa Executive Director) let me know I’ll be going to the PCA National Conference to meet with the bright minds working on these issues nationally.

What would you like to tell the prevention community?

I’m excited to be back in the world of working with prevention! That was a key component of me wanting to work with PCA Iowa. Prevention very much needed and often overlooked. I’m a firm believer in prevention.

I’m so excited to start building relationships with the communities and build support for them to do great work with their communities to elicit change.

What made you a firm believer?

It was my work as coordinator and national peer reviewer for Prevent Child Abuse America’s “Healthy Families America” for about 4 years. I previously worked with LSI for 16 years. I started out in direct service and walked up the ladder. Seeing parents gain confidence in themselves as parents, and their kids getting back on track to grow and learn when they hit kindergarten showed me the value of prevention. Parents & children reaching their full potential with a little support. Prevention works.

What is so special about childhood?

Children are much stronger and more resilient than we give them credit for, but having additional assistance at the right time is a game changer. Also, childhood is a time of new beginnings: seeing things with a lack of preconceived notions or experiences is a great opportunity for growth and learning. Even parents get excited to experience childlike things with a fresh set of eyes because of their children.

Poof! You can make one policy change to improve families & kids.

Families aren’t one-size-fits-all. Providing more individualized support is one thing I’d like to see more often. Increase family voice and support them building their own support networks. In general, families know what they need.

Anything interesting or surprising from your first 2 days at PCA Iowa?

There are pet-lovers here! When my husband asked how my first day was I said “I survived. Information overload.” I’m passionate for the work of prevention. I have a drive to always learn more and share it with others. I’m excited to get started!