Victim Services

Greater Des Moines Child Assault Prevention (CAP) Program 

The CAP program is a personal safety education program for schools. It uses a three-pronged approach to prevent child assault and maltreatment by presenting workshops for school staff, parents, and elementary school children. The program approaches prevention from a perspective of human dignity, mutual respec,t and basic human rights. Everyone has the right to be safe, strong and free. 

If you represent an elementary school in the greater Des Moines metro area and are interested in having the CAP Program visit your school, Contact Janelle Ballhagen at (515) 241-6703 or janelle.ballhagen@unitypoint.org. 

Children's Workshop: This empowering approach to prevention explains that when another person tries to take away our rights to be safe, strong, and free - there are problems. Through interactive role-play, we demonstrate what the problems might look like. 

The role plays include situations such as: 

• Bullying (peer to peer assault) 
• Abduction (assault by a stranger) 
• Sexual Abuse (assault by a known person) 

Staff education and parent education are approximately one-hour sessions done at the school before the children's workshop. The children's workshop takes place in the classroom and is done by a team of three trained facilitators. The children's workshop is approximately 50-60 minutes in the classroom and about 30 minutes of review time after the classroom presentations. 

Safety Concepts Presented 

Overview of the CAP program for school staff: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/7772042414075671043

Overview of the CAP program for parents/caregivers: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/2056896421600102659

If you suspect elder or dependent adult abuse, report it immediately to Dependent Adult Protective Services.

1-800-362-2178 (toll-free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.) 

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. If you want to request a welfare check, call local law enforcement.

Reporting is confidential.

Dependent Adult Protective Services investigates reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of adults:

• 65 and older
• or 18 and older with a disability, who are dependent and do not reside in long-term care facilities.

For a coordinated entry point to Iowa’s information and referral resources regarding long-term independent living, contact Lifelong Links online or call 1-866-468-7887.

Safety & advocacy to victims of intimate partner violence in Jasper County. 24-hour crisis line, one-on-one counseling, support services, court, medical, & housing advocacy.

Keywords: domestic violence, human trafficking, homicide, violent crimes, housing and homelessness, advocacy at health clinics, statewide hotline, family visitation and exchange, abuse, intimate partner, family violence, safety plan, 

Crisis Intervention Services

Office line: (641) 673-0336

Helpline: (800) 270-1620 

Go to the website

Services: Domestic Violence, Homicide and Other Violent Crimes, Sexual Assault, Shelter

Counties served: Appanoose, Davis, Jasper, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Poweshiek, Wapello, and Wayne. 

Sexual Assault Prevention & Response Victim Advocate SAPR: Military