Policy and Advocacy

I grew up in a violent home. Over 20 years later, children are suffering the same I did due to little protection from Iowa law. It’s time for change.

Iowa’s domestic abuse law hasn’t been updated since 1979—and that’s a serious problem. Abuse isn’t just physical. I am a DV survivor of emotional and psychological abuse, and I live with PTSD because of it. The law must recognize all forms of harm, not just the ones you can see. Survivors like me deserve to be protected, heard and believed. It’s time for Iowa to update its definition and stand with all victims.

As somebody who struggles with mental health issues, the concept of a police officer refusing to try to understand when somebody is going through something is utterly terrifying, especially when taking into account how stigmatized certain disorders are.