The
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD is dedicated to
the prevention of child abuse. Serving the United States, its
territories, and Canada, the Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week with professional crisis counselors who, through interpreters,
can provide assistance in 170 languages. The Hotline offers
crisis intervention, information, literature, and referrals to
thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources.
All calls are anonymous and confidential.
The Hotline has
received more than 2 million calls since it began in 1982. These calls
come from children at risk for abuse, distressed parents seeking crisis
intervention and concerned individuals who suspect that child abuse may
be occurring. The Hotline is also a valuable resource for those who are
mandated by law to report suspected abuse, such as school personnel,
medical and mental health professionals and police and fire
investigators.
Publicity in local and national media plays
a key role in promoting awareness of the Hotline number. The
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline has been featured on Oprah, The
Today Show, Montel, and NBC's Crime and Punishment and its "The More
You Know" public service announcement campaign. The Hotline has also
been mentioned in HBO and MTV documentaries about sexual abuse, on
Lifetime Television Network, and in Dear Abby and Seventeen magazine
advice columns.
The Hotline receives no government funding. It
is supported by the generous contributions of concerned organizations,
foundations and individuals.
Childhelp Network of Preferred Providers
Behavioral and/or mental health professionals interested in joining the Childhelp Network of Preferred Providers may download the coversheet and application below. Questions regarding this process can be directed to Susan Schmidt, MC, NCC, Director of the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 480-922-8212.