Where to go for help:
Child help National Child Abuse Hotline
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 140 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.
Office 1-800-790 2445
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.
You can also call 1-888-4AL-ANON (1-888-425-2666) Monday through
Friday, 8 am – 6 pm ET. for meeting information in Canada and the US.
Child Abuse
ChildHelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline: 800-4-A-CHILD (422.4453)
or 800.2.A.CHILD (222.4453, TDD for hearing impaired)
Provides multilingual crisis intervention and professional counseling
on child abuse. Gives referrals to local social service groups offering
counseling on child abuse. Operates 24 hours, seven days a week.
Department of social services for public to access information:
800-345-KIDS: Provides information concerning children available for
adoption and other children's programs
800-342-3009: Access to general information regarding Department
programs and HEAP Hotline
800-732-5207: Day Care Complaint Line
800-342-3720: Child Abuse Hotline
National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-25-ABUSE
Crisis intervention
Boys Town Suicide and Crisis Line: 800-448-3000 or 800-448-1833
(TDD)
Provides short-term crisis intervention and counseling and referrals to
local community resources. Counsels on parent-child conflicts, marital
and family issues, suicide, pregnancy, runaway youth, physical and
sexual abuse, and other issues. Operates 24 hours, seven days a
week.
Covenant House Hotline: 800-999-9999 www.covenanthouse.org
Crisis line for youth, teens, and families. Gives callers locally based
referrals throughout the United States. Provides help for youth and
parents regarding drugs, abuse, homelessness, runaway children, and
message relays. Operates 24 hours, seven days a week.
domestic violence
National Domestic Violence/Child Abuse/ Sexual Abuse:
800-799-SAFE/800-799-7233
From www.ndvh . org
Abuse is a pattern of coercive control that one person exercises over
another. Battering is a behavior that physically harms, arouses fear,
prevents a partner from doing what they wish or forces them to
behave in ways they do not want.
Battering includes the use of physical and sexual violence, threats and
intimidation, emotional abuse and economic deprivation.
Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual
orientation, religion or gender. It can happen to couples who are
married, living together or who are dating. Domestic violence affects
people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.
If you think you might be in an abusive relationship please call the
National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), 1-800-
787-3224 (TTY) or your local domestic violence center to talk with
someone about it.800-942-6908 Spanish Speaking
24-hour-a-day hotline, Provides crisis intervention and referrals to local
services and shelters for victims of partner or spousal abuse. English
and Spanish speaking advocates are available 24 hours a day, seven
days a week. Staffed by trained volunteers who are ready to connect
people with emergency help in their own communities, including
emergency services and shelters. The staff can also provide
information and referrals for a variety of non-emergency services,
including counseling for adults and children, and assistance in
reporting abuse. They have an extensive database of domestic
violence treatment providers in all US states and territories. Many staff
members speak languages besides English, and they have 24-hour
access to translators for approximately 150 languages. For the hearing
impaired, there is a TDD number. This is a great resource for anyone--
man, woman or child--who is experiencing or has experienced
domestic violence or abuse, or who suspects that someone they know
is being abused.
Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-829-1122
Eating and associated disorders
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders
(ANAD): 847-831-3438 (long distance)
National Mental Health Association: 800-969-6642 9AM-5PM Mon-Fri
information on mental health topics and referrals, access to an info
specialist.
Alzheimer's Association Hotline: 800-621-0379 8:30AM-4:00PM, Mon-Fri
information and referral services, free brochures
HIV/AIDS/sexually transmitted diseases
The CDC (Center for Disease Control) National Prevention Information
Network 1-800-458-5231 9AM-6PM Mon-Fri includes info on new
medicines, treatment trials, HIV & AIDS, with info specialists avail. to
answer questions; also at www.CDCNAC.org (CDC National Aids
Clearinghouse)
National AIDS Hotline: 800-342-AIDS (2437)
Information and referrals to local hotlines, testing centers, and
counseling. Open 24
hours, seven days a week.
AIDS Hotline in Spanish: 800-344-SIDA (7432)
Open 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, seven days a week.
AIDS Hotline for the Hearing Impaired: 800-243-7889 (TDD)
Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through
Friday
National Sexually Transmitted Disease Hotline: 800-227-8922
Information and referrals to free and low-cost public clinics. Operators
can answer general questions on prevention, symptoms, transmission
and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. Open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday.
Sexually Transmitted Disease & AIDS/HIV Information Hotline: 800-332-
2437, TTY - 800-332-3889 (Ohio)
Poison Control Any Kind of Substance: 800-662-9886
Poison Control: 800-362-9922
Nationwide RAINN National Rape Crisis Hotline: 800-656-4673
Office 615-259-9055
Missing Children Network: 800-235-3535
Thursday's Child's National Youth Advocacy Hotline at
1 (800) USA KIDS
National Hotline for Missing and Exploited Children: 800-843-5678
Operates a hotline for reporting missing children and sightings of
missing children. Offers assistance to law enforcement agents. Hours
of operation are 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
www.missingkids.com #
What Should You Do If You See A Child Who Appears Lost? From
www.missingkids.com
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)
encourages people to be alert and report suspicious situations
regarding missing and exploited children.
NCMEC teaches children to seek out low risk adults if they become
separated from their parent or guardian and need assistance. These
individuals are identified as a uniformed law-enforcement or security
officer, a store salesperson wearing a name tag, an information booth
employee wearing a name tag, or a mother with children.
But what if you’re a regular citizen? Use the tips noted below if you
see a child who appears lost.
1.Don’t be afraid to get involved.
2.Comfort the child but use restraint in physically touching the child.
3.If the child is able to speak, ask if they’re lost or where their
mother/father is.
4.Refrain from requesting too much personal information, since
children are taught not to give out this information to people they don’t
know.
5.If you have a cellular phone, contact authorities and report the
incident.
6.Try to find someone nearby in a position of authority who can assist.
7.Do not take the child far from the immediate location.
8.Do not put the child in your car and drive off seeking help.
9.Ask passers-by to assist.
10.Wait with the child until help arrives.
National Runaway Switchboard: 800-621-4000
Provides crisis intervention and travel assistance to runaways.
Provides information and local referrals to adolescents and families.
Gives referrals to shelters nationwide. Also relays messages to, or
sets up conference calls with, parents at the request of the child.
Operates 24 hours, seven days a week.
Child Find of America Hotline: 800-I-AM-LOST (426.5678)
Looks for missing and abducted children. Operators available 9 a.m. to
5 p.m. EST Monday-Friday. Voice mail on evenings and weekends with
calls returned.
CONFIDENTIAL Runaway Hotline: 800-231-6946
Parent Abduction Hotline: 800-292-9688
Provides crisis mediation in parental abduction. Provides prevention
information and referrals to local agencies. Operators available 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. EST Monday-Friday. Voice mail on evenings and weekends
with calls returned.
Boys Town National Hotline 800-448-3000
National Drug Information Treatment and Referral Hotline: 800-662-
HELP (4357)
Information, support, treatment options and referrals to local rehab
centers for any drug or alcohol problem. Operates 24 hours, seven
days a week. www.samhsa.gov
National Cocaine Hotline: 800-COCAINE (262-2463)
Information, crisis intervention, and referrals to local rehab centers for
all types of drug dependency. Operates 24 hours, seven days a week.
Al-ateen: 800-352-9996
Alcohol Abuse and Crisis Intervention: 800-234-0246
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Helpline and Treatment: 800-234-0420
www.focustreatmentcenter.com
National Youth Crisis Hotline: 800-442-HOPE (4673)
Provides counseling and referrals to local drug treatment centers,
shelters, and counseling services. Responds to youth dealing with
pregnancy, molestation, suicide, and child abuse. Operates 24 hours,
seven days a week. www.centerstone.org
Centerstone is the nation’s largest provider of community-based
behavioral healthcare, offering a full range of mental health services,
substance abuse treatment and related educational services in Indiana
and Tennessee. In 2007, we served 69,000 individuals and families at
our more than 120 facilities. Our programs address the wide-range of
emotional, behavioral, psychological and addiction issues affecting
those in our care. Through education and outreach, we provide young
and old alike with a better understanding of behavioral healthcare.
Centerstone exists to help individuals from all walks of life in need.
The American Counseling Association recommends 5
ways to help with coping AFTER a crisis situation.
1.Recognize your own feelings about the situation and talk to others
about your fears. Know that these feelings are a normal response to
an abnormal situation.
2.Be willing to listen to family and friends who have been affected and
encourage them to seek counseling if necessary.
3.Be patient with people; fuses are short when dealing with crises and
others may be feeling as much stress as you.
4.Recognize normal crises reactions, such as sleep disturbances and
nightmares, withdrawal, reverting to childhood behaviors and trouble
focusing on work or school.
5.Take time with your children, spouse, life partner, friends and co-
workers to do something you enjoy.
Understanding Child Sexual Abuse
Education, Prevention, and Recovery
Where To Go for Help
Several organizations can provide information and advice about child
sexual abuse including:
American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children
407 South Dearborn
Suite 1300
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 554-0166
http://www.apsac.org/
Child Help USA
15757 North 78th Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(800) 4-A-CHILD
http://www.childhelpusa.org/
Prevent Child Abuse America
332 S. Michigan Ave
Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60604-4357
(800) CHILDREN
www.preventchildabuse.org/index.shtml
www.pcat.org
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Charles B. Wang International Children's Building
699 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3175
24 hotline: 1-800-THE-LOST
http://www.missingkids.com/
National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
P.O. Box 1182
Washington, DC 20013
(800) FYI-3366
http://www.calib.com/nccanch/
These are the original Twelve Steps as published by Alcoholics
Anonymous.
1.We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had
become unmanageable.
2.Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore
us to sanity.
3.Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God
as we understood Him.
4.Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5.Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact
nature of our wrongs.
6.Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of
character.
7.Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8.Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to
make amends to them all.
9.Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when
to do so would injure them or others.
10.Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong
promptly admitted it.
11.Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious
contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge
of His Will for us and the power to carry that out.
12.Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we
tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these
principles in all our affairs.
In some cases, where other twelve-step groups have adapted the AA
steps as guiding principles, they have been altered to emphasize
principles important to those particular fellowships, to remove gender-
biased or specific religious language
You get one life. Whatever you do with it, or whatever is done
to you, you are the one that has to look at your face in the
mirror and decide if you can live with what you see.
Steven R. Zellers
Abuse stops today If you need help....Get help! "no more" Below are some phone numbers and information...If someone is hurting you it's time to get help. No one has the right to abuse you |
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