What is the Allen Child Protection Center?
In 2010, Allen Memorial Hospital Corporation established the Allen Child Protection Center (ACPC) to serve children and dependent adults who are suspected victims of abuse or witnesses to crime. The ACPC is fully accredited by the National Children’s Alliance, which promotes a multidisciplinary team model to ensure the best outcome for victims. In partnership with its team, including law enforcement, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, the courts, mental health agencies and others, the ACPC serves 27 counties in Northeast Iowa.
The ACPC core services include:
- Forensic interviews
- Medical exams
- Mental health therapy
- Family advocacy
- Community referrals
The ACPC also operates a Family Resiliency Program to assess and identify treatment for children, birth to age five, who have been affected by a parent’s or caregiver’s substance use and/or manufacturing. In 2024, the ACPC began providing child abuse prevention programs in schools and community agencies.
All patients at the ACPC, regardless of type of service, receive ZERO BILLS for services, and we are able to offer all of our patients a gift that typically includes toys, clothes or another small gift all thanks to our generous donors.
Renovation of Expanded Space & Services
The services of the Allen Child Protection Center continue to grow as needs are identified, and the number of patients rises. In 2024, the ACPC served 650 patients, a majority of which were age 5-12, with support for those experiencing abuse or witnessing violence.
CPC Services Offered:
- Forensic interviews
- Medical evaluations
- Mental health support
- Family resiliency program
- Community education
- Child abuse prevention
The center’s growth in services required growth in staffing as well, going from two original team members to 17 today, further emphasizing the need for expanded space. The ACPC has long been serving children with limited space and resources, especially evident in the reception area that is home to five staff members. This project will address that crowding and make the center more effective by increasing square footage from 5,200 to nearly 9,000.
Renovations Include:
- Larger "Club House" space
- Expanded waiting room for better privacy and security
- Additional interview and observation rooms
- More accessibility
- Friendly residential design
- Larger medical exam rooms
Ultimately, the Child Protection Center looks to match the growing needs of Northeast Iowa by best serving kids during their most trying times.
“When I was a Detective for our agency for 14 years, I worked very closely with the Allen Child Protection Center. The cases ranged from child neglect, sexual assaults, and even emergency interviews with children who witnessed homicides. The work ACPC does is incredible and the partnership we have with them has been outstanding. They make an immense difference in the lives of so many people that may have just had the worst experience anyone could imagine.”
Robert Duncan
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Ways to Give
You can help support children during their most trying times by making a gift to this important project.
- Gifts may be made in cash, stock and securities.
- Gifts can include real estate, life insurance, personal property and IRA distribution.
- Matching gifts through your employer or spouse’s employer can double, or even triple your gift.
- Pledges are accepted and may be paid over a maximum of five years.
- Your gift may be made in honor or in memory of someone. If you choose, a letter recognizing your gift will be mailed to the person you are honoring or the family of the person you are memorializing (The gift amount will not be shared).
Contact Us
For more information, contact the Allen Foundation at (319) 235-3960 or Michael.Lind@unitypoint.org.