Recognizing our Community Heroes

Prevent Child Abuse Iowa would like to both thank and recognize the hard work and dedication that our grantees and service providers across Iowa are doing to help make positive experiences for families across the state. We are proud of your work to enhance and support children and families, especially in a time of uncertainty.

Each year we recognize Community Heroes through a statewide nomination process. We seek nominations for those who have made a positive and significant impact on their community, exemplifying the spirit of PCA Iowa’s mission to strengthen families for safer, happier childhoods.

We are thrilled to recognize two award recipients for our 2020 Community Hero Award. Our conference theme is “Champions for Children” and these Community Heroes are true champions in their communities and we are pleased to honor their accomplishments in the field.

Meet the Award Recipients

Jillian Herink

Since becoming the Executive Director of Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children, Jillian Herink has worked with the governing board to clarify the vision and mission of the association moving efforts from output focus to outcomes priorities. In 3 short years, she has mobilized diverse persons across the state in order to address early care and education needs for children, families, businesses, and communities.

Thank you very much for this honor. I am fortunate to be part of an organization where I am able to advocate for our child care workforce, support the quality of the early childhood profession, and positively impact the lives of our youngest children. I greatly appreciate this recognition.

– Jillian Herink

Amy Davis

Amy Davis has been employed with Lutheran Services of Iowa for 17 years and is the Clinical Service Coordinator for the central and western part of the state of Iowa, overseeing fifteen different programs. Every time LSI starts a new project or expands a program in the Western side of the state, Amy is reaching out to staff and stakeholders to assess community needs.

I am truly honored to be accepting the Community Hero Award. I absolutely love what I do each and every day and have been blessed with so many people that have pushed me and encouraged me professionally. Thank you again for this opportunity!

– Amy Davis

Thank you to our Community Hero Sponsors

Thank you to St. Gregory Recovery Center and Blank Children’s Hospital for sponsoring our Community Hero award! 

St. Gregory Recovery Center’s mission is to improve the lives we touch. Their faith-based recovery program utilizes a multi-modality approach to individualize their client’s treatment plan and experience. St Gregory’s believes in walking alongside their clients and helping them overcome barriers in all facets of life, not just focusing on the substance use itself. It is with this foundation that their clients build the healthy habits and tools to achieve sobriety and create a life of recovery.

Congratulations to all the nominees and huge thank you for all they have done for their community.

– St. Gregory Recovery Center

Blank Children’s Hospital, a service of UnityPoint Health – Des Moines, is completely dedicated to meeting the unique health care needs of children. Blank Children’s Hospital is a 108-bed environment that embraces and encourages families to be a part of their child’s healing and recovery. Everything from equipment to decor is designed specifically for children.