Spotlight on Southwest Iowa Drug Endangered Children (DEC) Coalition

The National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children defines drug endangered children as children who are at risk of suffering physical, mental or emotional harm as a result of parent or caregiver legal or illegal substance misuse. They may also be children whose caretaker's substance misuse interferes with their ability to parent and provide a safe and nurturing environment. 

Using a multi-disciplinary approach, the Southwest Iowa DEC coalition is committed to identifying children impacted by substance misuse, appropriately intervening, and providing services to the children and their families. One project we are actively engaged in is starting a Family Resiliency Center in Council Bluffs, which would provide transdisciplinary collaborative services for infants and children (0-8 years) who have been exposed to substances prenatally or environmentally through a parent or caregiver's substance use. We also collaborate with schools and law enforcement agencies to implement Handle With Care in the schools in our area. Handle With Care is a process in which law enforcement notifies schools about children who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, such as domestic violence. This communication helps schools respond to these children with a trauma-informed approach and provide the necessary resources and interventions.

Our coalition also supports activities such as spreading awareness about incidents contributing to drug endangered children (e.g., drug trends, handing out posters about the effects of secondhand smoke, fetal fentanyl syndrome, meth prevention month proclamation, etc.), the Hands Across the Bridge event, Drug Take Back, and other collaborative events such as the Community Star Awards Ceremony. 

Our SW Iowa DEC Coalition served over 5,000 youth and nearly 4,000 adults from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025. We are continuing to expand, network, and collaborate to make a lasting impact on our community and the children in it!

SW Iowa DEC Coalition Vision/Mission:

Vision: All children in our communities will grow and develop safely in a drug-free environment.

Mission: Using a multi-disciplinary approach to provide resources and assistance to our communities, we will strive to ensure the safety of all children and families by addressing the needs surrounding Drug Endangered Children. 

SW Iowa DEC Coalition is affiliated with the Iowa Alliance of Drug Endangered Children.

Thanks to Abigail Osterhaus, the DEC Coordinator for their coalition, for sharing your successes with us!

AC4C Prevention Conference

Wednesday, November 5, 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

at MCTC, Camp Dodge

Registration is now open for the 2025 AC4C Prevention Conference! The conference will feature Matt Bennett as the opening keynote speaker. Matt is a trainer and author renowned for pioneering trauma‑informed, neurobiological approaches to leadership and behavioral change.

As the author of Connecting Paradigms, Heart Rate Variability, The Heart(beat) of Business, and Talking about Trauma & Change, he has developed a powerful integrative framework combining neurobiology and trauma science. His dynamic, participant‑centered trainings and practical application—bring this research to life, helping professionals sustain resiliency, prevent burnout, and elevate trauma‑informed practice in prevention.

The day will start at 7:45 a.m. with on-site Registration/Check-In, an awesome Resource Fair, and a light breakfast in the Rec Hall through 8:25 a.m., and the conference will begin in the Theatre at 8:30 a.m.

Workshops and topics throughout the day include:

• Alcohol, Tobacco and Cancer
• Organizational Health for Leaders
• Classroom Management
• Stigma
• Resilience Zones
• Iowa Drug Trends
• Marijuana and Mental Health

Jason Kilmer, Professor at the University of Washington will be our virtual closing keynote. IBC has approved 6.0 hours of ATOD CEUs. Participants must stay for the entire conference to receive their certificate. There will be a place to sign-out with the time, as we leave at 4:15 p.m.

There is a two-part registration process for participants and vendors. First REGISTER with MCTC and indicate if you need the limited free lodging on campus the night before and your lunch choice, and then pay the conference cost of $20 through Venmo @ACforC-Iowa or by check to Iowa AC4C by October 15. Send checks to: Iowa AC4C, 110 S. Williams St., Anamosa, IA 52205. Please contact Jennifer Husmann at jhusmann@asac.us if you have any questions. The timed agenda with all of the presenters named will come out soon. The conference is supported by the Mid-America PTTC.

Upcoming Events:

AC4C Fall Quarterly Work Retreat: Tuesday and Wednesday, September 23 and 24. The agenda will be coming out soon. You can REGISTER HERE now. (See all the details below in this newsletter.)

AC4C Annual Prevention Conference:

Wednesday, November 5 at Camp Dodge in Johnston, IA Theme: "Change: Growing Together Through It All"

The cost will be $20, and 6.0 ATOD CEUs are approved through IBC. Start your registration HERE. See below for more details.

AC4C Youth Substance Prevention Day on the Hill: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (And hope for good weather this year!)

AC4C Legislative Learning Event: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 (with Spring retreat March 24 and 25-meeting at DPS after Learning Event at the Capitol)



Resources to Share and Links to check out... 

Members, keep up with the latest in the news

AC4C on Facebook

AC4C Youth on Instagram

Looking for a training

Iowa Board of Certification

Iowa ODCP

Iowa State Patrol

Iowa Health and Human Services & Your Life Iowa

Partnership for A Healthy Iowa

Do you know about RALI Iowa?

Check out this organization and information about their virtual trailer HERE

More resources...

Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau

Drive Smart Iowa

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Traffic Safety Marketing

Stop Drugged Driving

September is National Recovery Month. This year's theme is: "Every Person, Every Family, Every Community," emphasizing that recovery is for everyone. The CDC has provided a Recovery Month Toolkit with sample social media content to help us promote this important message.

September is also National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. SAMHSA has provided a 2025 Toolkit with an overall theme: "Together in Strength, Dignity, Hope, and Purpose." They also have weekly themes with social media sharables to help us promote this important month.

For help quitting tobacco call Quitline Iowa 800-QUIT-NOW

AC4C Fall Quarterly Work Retreat

September 23 and 24

Day 1 will be all virtual. Day 2 will be hybrid and we would love to have you come in person if you are able. Day 2 will be State Partner sharing. Register for the work retreat HERE whether coming in-person, virtually or both.

Here is the agenda:

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Day 1: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Virtual ONLY

8:30-8:45 a.m. – Networking as Members Join the Meeting

8:45-9:15 a.m. – Orientation for New Members & AC4C Members share their why & benefits of AC4C

9:15-9:45 a.m. – Introductions – What are you looking forward to this fall?

9:45-9:50 a.m. – Approval of the June Retreat Minutes

9:50-10:00 a.m. – Break

10:00-11:30 a.m. – Cheryl Buntsma "Alcohol and Cannabis Exposure in Utero and Concerns for the Growing Child."  1.5 Hours of ATOD CEUs approved by IBC

11:30-11:40 a.m. – Break

11:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m. – The Power of Parents by MADD – Allie Houston

12:10-1:10 p.m. – Lunch break

1:10-1:40 p.m. – Workgroup Sharing

·      Policy

·      Capacity & Sustainability

1:40-2:10 p.m. – Action Team Sharing

·      Marijuana

·      Nicotine

2:10-2:20 p.m. – Break

2:20-2:50 p.m. – Action Team Sharing

·     Alcohol

-STOP Act Grant Update

-MUP Update

·      Other Substances

2:50-3:00 p.m. – Wrap-up, Highlights of the Day

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Day 2: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Hybrid: In-person at Camp Dodge/MCTC or Via Zoom

9:00-9:30 a.m. – Introductions & Recap from Yesterday

9:30-10:30 a.m. – State Partner Sharing

10:30-10:45 a.m. – Break

10:45-12:00 a.m. – State Partner Sharing

12:00-1:30 p.m. – Lunch Break – Time for Networking

1:30-2:15 p.m. – State Partner Sharing

2:15-3:15 p.m. – Coalition Sharing (successes and any help needed)

3:15-3:20 p.m. – Upcoming Events

·      Prevention Conference

·      Day on the Hill

·      Legislative Learning Event

3:20-3:30 p.m. – Wrap-up and Highlights of the Day

Join an Action Team or Work Group session every month!

Access the action team meetings on Mondays. Login information here

Other Substances Action Team

Next meeting- October 6 @ 9:30 a.m.

No Meeting in September due to Labor Day.

Marijuana Action Team

Next meeting- September 8 @ 9:30 a.m.

Nicotine Action Team 

Next meetings- September 15 @ 10:30 a.m. (Please notice time change.)

Alcohol Action Team

Next meetings- September 22 @ 9:30 a.m.

_______________________________

Policy Work Group

Co-Chair:  

Jennifer Husmann

Co-Chair: 

Maggie Ballard



4th Wednesday at 2:00 pm

Looking for a volunteer to replace Jennifer as a Co-chair on this work group. If you are interested in this position please contact a board member or Jennifer.  

Meeting information can be found here

Purpose: To collaborate with the community and statewide entities to advocate and educate on substance abuse legislation, policies, and related issues.

_________________________________

Capacity/Sustainability Work Group

Seeking Co-chairs

3rd Monday at 2:00 pm

Please let Jennifer know if you would like to be sent the link for the meeting.

Purpose: Create a network of professionals that have diverse knowledge, experience, and interests to build skills and provide resources to members of AC4C.