The Des Moines Sunday Register’s report about child abuse in Iowa was a reminder of the essential link between a thriving business sector and a successful, healthy society.

The numbers make it clear that poor counties, where it’s difficult to find a solid, steady job and even harder to enter into a lucrative career, are also the places where childhood most often turns into an unpleasant and even frightening ordeal.

Sociologists would be needed to sort out the many interconnections. Which comes first, a poor economy or a weak tradition of child-rearing, is a bit of a chicken-and-egg puzzle. Either way, poor counties seem to arrive at the same end result: too many families that have to struggle to get by. Such families, whatever their other characteristics, have less time and less money to properly care for their children.

The business world has developed an almost competitive dedication to charity and civic participation, which is praiseworthy. At the same time, business leaders should remember that the question of which comes first, culture or the basics, isn’t hard to decipher at all.

Families need healthful food and proper shelter, and need to feel confident that those circumstances will last, before culture can sweep through like a refreshing breeze and elevate their lives further.

This means that providing jobs, guaranteeing as much employment security as possible and paying decent wages is a monumental role for businesses to play. That comes first; then come the spectacular extras.

The numbers also show that Central Iowa is far better off than the state’s poorest counties. Our business leaders have played a vital role in creating a strong community.

But we’re not perfect. It’s a bit stunning to realize that child abuse is even a topic of concern in Iowa. First we acknowledge that it’s a problem; then we have to wonder whether it’s a trend. We certainly can’t sit back and assume that our kids are all safe.