National Child Abuse Hotline:
1-800-4-A-CHILD
(1-800-422-4453)
By Region:
New York Child Abuse Hotline – (212) 335-4308
SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline offers 24/7, 365 days per year immediate crisis counseling for people experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-made disaster. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a government agency leading public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 to provide free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as and prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones. You can speak with someone by calling (800) 273-8255, or connect with a counselor through their online Lifeline Chat service.
Crisis Text Line provides 24/7 crisis counseling via text message. Simply text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.
ChildHelp.org aims to help victims of child abuse through education, treatment, and prevention programs. You can call or text them at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) or even live chat with a support specialist on their website. I mentioned ChildHelp.org recently in my blog post and podcast episode about Ame Deal. The lead investigator on Ame’s case, Greg McKay, is now the organization’s Chief Operating Officer. I have tremendous respect for him!
HelpAndHope.org offers advice and resources to parents for the daily challenges of raising children, including parenting tips, fun ideas for kids, and (obviously) help and hope.
HelpGuide.org helps you help yourself by showing you how to start improving your mental health and wellness today.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is a bottomless well of information and resources. The NIMH is “the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders” and provides education on a variety of mental health disorders as well as resources, clinical trials, and much more.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
The Blue Ribbon Project – An organization based in Maryland committed to preventing child abuse and neglect and providing a support network for survivors of child abuse, foster care, and child sexual assault.
Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey – Founded in 1979, this organization’s efforts throughout New Jersey are dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect in all forms.
Prevent Child Abuse America – This organization’s mission is to prevent the abuse and neglect of our nation’s children.
National Child Abuse Coalition – Through advocacy, education, and outreach, this organization works to support families and communities to prevent child abuse and improve the public systems that respond to and address abuse.
Justice for Children – This organization was founded upon the belief that every child is entitled to a zealous advocate to fight for their safety. When they system fails to provide such advocacy, Justice for Children will.
National Children’s Alliance – NCA is the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs). Their motto is “empowering local communicites to serve child victims of abuse.”
The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children – Founded in 1986, APSAC is a non-profit, national organization focused on meeting hte needs of professionals engaged in all aspects of services for maltreated children and their families.
Kids and Cars – This nonprofit organization is dedicated to preventing vehicle-related risks to children such as hot car deaths, carbon monoxide poisoning, trunk entrapment, power window strangulation, frontovers and backovers, car theft with children or animals inside, falls, knocking cars into gear by accident, drowning inside a vehicle, underage drivers, etc.
Suffer the Little Children Podcast – I’d be a fool if I didn’t include my own podcast in this list! On my weekly podcast, I cover a different story in each episode, delving into as much detail as you’ve come to expect from my blog posts (and then some).
True Consequences – Eric Carter-Landin created his podcast to raise awareness of true crime stories from New Mexico, spurred by the 1987 murder of his then-9-month-old brother, Jacob Jeremiah Landin. Eric brings a strong sense of empathy to the stories he tells, which are admirably victim-centric.
Reverie True Crime – Host Paige Elmore tells spine-chilling, hair-raising stories of true crimes and other topics, including interviewing survivors and victims of injustice. Even daydreams can become nightmares, and Paige tells these stories with empathy and grace.
Truth and Justice with Bob Ruff – This is an essential, listener driven show, devoted to the pursuit of truth and justice. Host Bob Ruff covers a single case of possible false conviction each season, taking a “deep dive” into the details and leading a crowd-sourced investigation to get to the truth. The subject of the show’s second season, Ed Ates, was released from prison after 20 years thanks to the efforts of the Truth and Justice Army!
Real Crime Profile – Former NYC prosecutor/retired FBI profiler Jim Clemente, criminal behavioral analyst/former New Scotland Yard Laura Richards, and Lisa Zambetti, casting director for CBS’ Criminal Minds, join forces as they profile behavior from real criminal cases.
Best Case Worst Case – Jim Clemente of Real Crime Profile (retired FBI profiler/former NYC prosecutor) joins former federal prosecutor Francey Hakes to interview law enforcement and military professionals about their most memorable cases.
Cold (The Susan Powell story) – In December 2009, young Utah mother Susan Powell disappeared from her West Valley home. She has never been found. Her husband, Josh, was the focus of the active police investigation until he blew up his home in Graham, Washington, killing himself and the couple’s two young sons, Charlie and Braden. KSL Newsradio executive digital producer Dave Cawley created this limited-run podcast to break down the case after diving into public and police records. Even if you think you know the Powell case inside and out, you will be blown away by the detail given in season 1, which focuses on Susan’s case.
American Society for the Positive Care of Children – Who can report child abuse? The answer is simple. Anyone who witnesses abusive behavior towards a child can and should report it! Visit the American SPCC’s site to report child abuse by state.
Child Welfare Information Gateway – A list of organizations that provide information on resources for preventing child abuse and neglect.
Fatal Distraction: Forgetting a Child in the Backseat of a Car Is a Horrifying Mistake. Is It a Crime? – This incredibly informative, detailed article written by Gene Weingarten and published in the Washington Post in 2009 demonstrates just how easy it is for anyone with any level of education and from any walk of life to forget their child in a car. If you can forget your purse or your cell phone, you can forget your child; this article explains how the human brain can sabotage itself. Highly recommended!
Child Sex Abuse – Helping a Child Who Has Been Sexually Abused – Herman Law in Boca Raton, Florida represents victims of childhood sexual abuse from all over the United States. They have created an extensive guide detailing how to assist children who have been sexually abused, including a lot of helpful information for victims and their families.
Dying to Be Ill: True Stories of Medical Deception by Marc D. Feldman and Gregory P. Yates – Dr. Marc Feldman is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Adjunct Professor of Psychology, the University of Alabama (UA), Tuscaloosa, Alabama; a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association; the author of more than 100 peer-reviewed articles in the professional literature; and an international expert in factitious disorder, Munchausen syndrome, Munchausen by proxy, and malingering.
Munchausen.com – This website is an evidence-based resource for anyone interested in the areas of Dr. Marc Feldman’s expertise, including Munchausen Syndrome, Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, Munchausen by Internet, and Malingering. Munchausen syndrome by proxy is also known as medical child abuse.
We Came Here to Forget: A Novel by Andrea Dunlop – Andrea is the author of several novels, an accomplished speaker, and a consultant based out of Seattle, Washington. She wrote We Came Here to Forget using personal experience with a family member with Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
Helping Survivors of Sexual Abuse & Assault – Child Sexual Abuse – Helping Survivors is a website containing resources for survivors of sexual abuse. This page deals with child sexual abuse.
