Childhelp 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 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.