National Childhelp Day of Hope: Raising Awareness & Protecting Children

A Day of Awareness: Fighting Against Child Abuse and Neglect

National Childhelp Day of Hope is celebrated each year on the first Wednesday of April, which this year is April 2. Its goal is to raise awareness and emphasize the issues of child abuse and neglect. During the holiday, advocates and volunteers gather with congressional members to inform leaders about crucial legislation that aids victims of child abuse and neglect.

Background of National Childhelp Day of Hope

Established in 1959 by Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, Childhelp is the oldest and largest non-profit organization in America. It focuses on preventing and treating child abuse. Childhelp offers treatment programs nationwide for abuse victims and operates the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline — the sole national helpline dedicated to child abuse and neglect. The group started as International Orphans, established after O’Meara and Fedderson committed to helping 11 Japanese-American children they met in Japan during a government-funded goodwill tour. They came back to the U.S. to gather support for the initiative, and in 1961, International Orphans constructed two sizable orphanages in the Tokyo region for Asian American children. 

In 1976, O’Meara and Fedderson initiated a movement against child abuse named the “Children’s Village U.S.A.” It safeguarded children who were severely abused and offered them treatment and therapy. In 1979, O’Meara and Fedderson collaborated with President Jimmy Carter to designate April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. In 1983, the name of Children’s Village U.S.A was changed to Childhelp U.S.A., and Childhelp International was established for its global operations. 

Children’s Village U.S.A. established the inaugural national toll-free hotline: 4-A-Child (1-800). It continues to function around the clock, every day of the week. The hotline provides an array of support resources from trained crisis counselors. In 2000, Congress voted to declare the first Wednesday in April as National Childhelp Day of Hope. During the holiday, individuals nationwide pause to offer a prayer and observe a moment of silence to honor and remember the children experiencing abuse and neglect. 

Timeline of National Childhelp Day of Hope

• 1959 Two Friends Create International Orphans- Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson create International Orphans. 

• 1982 The First National Toll-free Hotline- Childhelp establishes the inaugural national toll-free helpline. 

• 1983 From Children’s Village to Childhelp- Children’s Village U.S.A is rebranded as Childhelp U.S.A. 

• 1997 The Childhelp Website Launches- Childhelp unveils its website. 

Ways to Commemorate National Childhelp Day of Hope

• Take a Moment of Silence: Spend a moment in prayer and pause for a brief silence. Do this to honor the children who experienced abuse and neglect.

• Contribute to Childhelp: Contribute either funds or your time to Childhelp. Every contribution will be appreciated.

• Participate in a Childhelp Fundraising Event: Participate in a fundraising event organized by Childhelp. If you’re unable to locate a local event, consider going to a fundraising event next year.

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Information on Stopping Child Abuse

• Child Maltreatment is Widespread: In the U.S., at least one out of every seven children has faced abuse or neglect within the last year.

• Children with Special Needs Face Elevated Risks: Children with special needs face an increased likelihood of experiencing neglect or abuse.

• Some Elements Offer Protection Against Child Abuse: Certain protective factors consist of encouraging family settings and social connections, parental jobs, sufficient housing, and availability of healthcare and social services.

• Child Maltreatment is Connected to Additional Forms of Abuse: Abuse of spouses and vulnerable adults is frequently associated with child abuse.

• Mistreatment is not Solely Physical: Abuse manifests in various ways: emotional, mental, and physical.

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Significance of National Childhelp Day of Hope

• Its Goal is to Prevent Child Abuse: The day is dedicated to eliminating child abuse and neglect globally. It prompts us to contribute to groups that safeguard children and promote understanding of child abuse.

• It Assists Children: The National Childhelp Day of Hope seeks to support children who are unable to advocate for themselves. It aims to safeguard children from violence, neglect, and mistreatment.

• It Generates Awareness: Discussing child abuse and neglect can be difficult. However, National Childhelp Day of Hope compels us to recognize it and inspires us to act.