The officer took up his position across from the couch where the group of four were sitting. Two men. One woman, and a child. Probably four years old. Maybe five depending on nutrition or slow growth.

From where the officer stood, he could see into the kitchen. Encrusted food caked the countertops. A fork stuck out of what remained of a casserole in a scorched Pyrex. The casserole looked dry and green when he’d passed by it twenty minutes ago. Not appetizing. The ants on the counter didn’t make it any more appealing. From the corner of his eye, the officer could still see the small baggies with drug residue next to the bottle of Juicy Juice. One of the baggies contained a white crystalline substance. Methamphetamine. Investigators hadn’t collected anything in the kitchen yet. They were too busy taking inventory of the gallon sized bags of marijuana found in the bedroom.

A headache was brewing. The air in the house was stale, musty and thick. The heavy air, combined with raw marijuana, burnt incense, and plug-in air fresheners blended into a noxious potpourri. Fresh air, Ibuprofen, and an immediate after-shift trip to the laundry room for his uniform would be the officer’s go-to remedies.

“What’s going to happen to my baby?” the mom asks, a used methamphetamine pipe on the windowsill behind her.

“Investigators will be talking to you in a few. You’ll discuss with them.”

Breaking eye contact to avoid answering questions until the social workers arrived, the officer scanned a broken bookshelf along the wall at the end of the couch. On top he spotted a lighter, a marijuana bong, and a second methamphetamine pipe. Toy dinosaurs roamed the bookshelf, accompanied by a plastic Iron Man and a handful of board books. Then he noticed the couch was covered in cartoon character blankets and superhero blankets. A yellowed pillow without a pillowcase rested on an adult’s lap.

Continuing to scan the room, the officer’s eyes moved to the child. The child clung to a stuffed monkey, worn from years together. Above one of the air fresheners, a burnt-out night light hung loosely from the wall socket. The smiling race car and tow truck on the night light teetered precariously.

The officer thought about the one already handcuffed in the back of a squad car. The fifth of the group. He’d fought with the search warrant entry team, and he just didn’t seem right. It was more than anger or fear. The guy was on something.

This kid’s seen some stuff. The officer shut his eyes for a quick respite.

It’s a vivid scene, and it happens right here in our community. A drug-endangered child lives, grows, and learns in an environment like this. A physically abused child learns to respond to the demands of life with violence. A neglected child is left home alone for the weekend with an empty refrigerator. A sexually abused child is too terrified and confused to disclose until they’ve endured years of unspeakable suffering.

According to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, 19 percent of substantiated child abuse cases in 2022 involved dangerous substances with nine percent involving the presence of illegal drugs in a child’s body. Denial of critical care was identified most often in substantiated child abuse cases. Physical abuse and sexual abuse were identified as the fourth and fifth most common forms of child abuse in 2022. We can do better for kids.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month in America. It’s an opportunity to learn more about child abuse, child abuse prevention, and to take action. Observing Child Abuse Prevention Month only has meaning if we take action.

What does that look like?

For parents, it means accepting the responsibilities of being a parent and staying true to them every day. Parenting is challenging. Each child has different emotional, physical, medical, and relational needs. Parents, we must give our best to love, understand, and care for our children.

Raising healthy and happy kids takes a village. Kids need to belong to safe and nurturing communities where friends, family, and neighbors support one another. With appropriate boundaries, friends, family, and neighbors can serve as an incredible support structure.

Get involved. Volunteer for kid’s church or youth group. Coach a soccer team. Lead a scout group. There are abundant opportunities to serve as positive role models and sources of support for children. Be a big for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Collect supplies needed by Child, Adolescent, and Parent Support (CAPS) as they continue to encourage the growth of parents. Engage with Guiding Star to find out what you can do.

Report suspected child abuse or neglect. An abused or neglected child can’t stop their own abuse. If a child is living through abuse or neglect, you may be the only one with the power to stop it. If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected make the call. Report suspected child abuse by calling the Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-362-2178 or law enforcement at 1-641-754-5725.

You can make a difference in the life of a child. Take one step toward doing so today. It’ll make your community a better place, and it’ll make Child Abuse Prevention Month all the more meaningful.

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Jordan Gaffney is the Marshall County attorney.