Please call the National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the first Wednesday of April is designated as "A National Day of Hope."
On this day we ask all Americans to keep victims of abuse and neglect in their thoughts and prayers, to seek to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect, and to give victimized children hope for the future. This is also a day when the faith community, nonprofit organizations and volunteers across America should recommit themselves and mobilize their resources to assist abused and neglected children.
The Mission of Childhelp:
Childhelp(R) exists to meet the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children. We focus our efforts on advocacy, prevention, treatment, and community outreach.
Our Philosophy:
Childhelp credits its success to its founders' visionary beliefs, which are the heart of the organization:
•Childhelp believes that every child has a unique contribution to make to the world. We do everything within our power to help each child heal and develop self-esteem to reach their God-given potential.
•We believe unconditional love is the foundation upon which all healing begins. The entrance of each Childhelp facility features the words "All Who Enter Here Will Find Love."
•These children, who have seen the worst that life has to offer, deserve the best that we can provide while they are in the care of Childhelp.
Not surprisingly, the perspectives of the children served by Childhelp are varied. Some have known nothing but abuse and neglect, believing they were alone and that no one cared. Others lived in happy homes with caring, loving families, only to be hurt by someone outside the home, usually someone they already knew and trusted.
Childhelp programs and services are designed to help children from any situation and let them experience the life they deserve-one filled with love. The principal theme is to provide these children with an environment of love and kindness and with the best possible treatment services so they will see how special they truly are.
Click here to see what action you can take to help stop child abuse. There are volunteer opportunities, events listing and a donation page. There are also other opportunities for service available. Will you help in this effort?
Here are some shocking and sad statistics:
•A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds.
•Almost five children die everyday as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4.
•It is estimated that between 60-85% of child fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as such on death certificates.
•90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way; 68% are abused by family members.
•Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.
•31% percent of women in prison in the United States were abused as children.
•Over 60% of people in drug rehabilitation centers report being abused or neglected as a child.
•About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse.
•About 80% of 21 year old that were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder.
•The estimated annual cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States for 2007 is $104 billion.
•Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy.
•Abused teens are 3 times less likely to practice safe sex, putting them at greater risk for STDs.
Source: Childhelp
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