The Short Years Partnership, established in 2007, offers family support and parenting education services and programs in Warren, Dallas, and Madison County. SYP’s goal is to help parents & caregivers engage with their children in ways that lead to a lifetime of good health, educational achievement, and future success. SYP’s vision is for all children to learn, grow, and develop to reach their full potential and for all parents to feel comfortable, prepared, and motivated during the journey. Short Years has five primary programs: Parents as Teachers, The Short Years Diaper Bank, Dads with a Purpose, Stewards of Children, and Connections Matter.

Parents As Teachers is an evidence-based parenting education and family engagement model designed to serve families throughout pregnancy until their child enters kindergarten. Families participating in the Program receive personal visits from certified Parent Educators, typically in their homes, as well as group parenting education opportunities, developmental screenings, and linkages with community resources.

“My Parent Educator really helped me work through and understand my son’s outbursts and behavioral issues. She showed me different methods on how to address them when they would arise. I’ve noticed a huge difference in [my son] for the better from our first PAT visit until now.”

The Short Years Diaper Bank provides diapers to any qualifying families experiencing need in Warren County. The Diaper Bank also serves qualifying Parents as Teachers families in Dallas and Madison Counties.

"The Short Years diaper program has helped our family by providing a baby basic! Not only do I have support as a parent with my PAT visits, but I'm also provided financial support from the diapers. It's seriously decreased the money we have to spend on a necessity--and as a low-income family, that's extra important."

Dads With a Purpose is a voluntary 8-week parenting course. The initiative is an opportunity for Warren County Dads to hone parenting skills through a nationally recognized curriculum developed by the National Partnership for Community Leadership on Fatherhood Development.

Stewards of Children is a nationally recognized child sexual abuse prevention training created by Darkness to Light. This two-hour training helps educators, service providers, and community members learn to recognize the signs of sexual abuse and how to intervene and react responsibly.

Connections Matter is an initiative designed to engage community members in building caring connections to improve well-being. Research shows that communities connected through caring relationships have better physical and mental health, increased workplace productivity and school success, and less crime and homelessness. To Prevent Child Abuse, Iowa, leads the Connections Matter initiative in collaboration with partners statewide.