April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Long before a presidential proclamation in 1983 designated April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, efforts were under way in Redlands to address this problem. In 1980, former City Councilwoman Barbara Riordan opened her home for a meeting led by Childhelp International co-founders Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson. The estimated attendance of 40 swelled to 150, and the Inland Empire Chapter of Childhelp grew out of it. The non-profit strives to prevent and interrupt child abuse in all of its forms. Peggy Brier, Redlands 2012 Woman of the Year, attended that meeting and has been a member of Childhelp’s Inland Empire Chapter ever since. The members of this and other local chapters across the country support the work of Childhelp International programs via fundraising and awareness activities. Brier also serves as the Abuse Prevention Chair on Childhelp’s Western Regional Coordinating Council. She especially appreciates the way Childhelp goes about its mission to prevent child abuse. “It’s just a great organization,” she said. “They try to heal the families if they can. If they can’t, then the children go into foster care or they adopt the children out.” That is accomplished partly through Childhelp’s Foster Family and Adoption Agency, here in Redlands. Brier called the agency “a feather in Redlands’ cap.” A little farther afield, Childhelp International delivers healing and housing to severely abused children at its Childhelp Merv Griffin Village in Beaumont. Current City Councilwoman Pat Gilbreath explained why she supports Childhelp and the Village: “In my mind,” she said in a recent telephone call, “it provides a very needed service to abused children when they desperately need services. They are given counseling and basically helped to get back their self-esteem.” Recently, members of the Redlands Council of PTAs listened receptively to a national representative from Childhelp, Andrea Dunlap, as she presented Childhelp’s low-cost, research-based, computer-based school curriculum called Speak Up, Be Safe. The lessons involve parents and teachers in educating kids about how to protect themselves from child abuse, bullying, and Internet and sexting victimization. The program has proven highly successful in other school districts in the nation. Superintendent of Schools Lori Rhodes, who attended the meeting, encouraged members of the Council to begin implementing the program in small ways at first, pointing out the District’s history of including parents in such efforts. Newly-elected State Senator Mike Morrell issued a written statement on Childhelp’s importance, declaring, “It’s a tragic reality in today’s world that so many innocent children continue to be victims of abuse and neglect. As a community, we need to embrace these kids and provide them with loving and safe environments where they can begin to heal.” With an estimated 3 million reports of child abuse being made annually in the United States, and from 4 to 7 American children dying every day from child abuse and neglect, Childhelp needs all the support it can get. This April, Childhelp’s Inland Empire Chapter asks you to get involved in any way you can. Jo Ann Von Wald, president of the Inland Empire Chapter, said, "While we recognize the month of April as National Child Abuse Prevention month, the members of Childhelp are aware of child abuse every month of the year and are continually working to combat it. Their professional crisis counselors offer guidance and support throughout the United States and its territories in 170 languages. All calls are confidential and anonymous." Visit childhelp.org and speakupbesafe.org to learn more about the many ways Childhelp is offering hope to abused children. You can also become a member of the Inland Empire Chapter, or support the group with your tax-deductible donation. Or, contact the Childhelp Merv Griffin Village at (800) 244-0578 to learn about their services and needs. To join the Inland Empire chapter of Childhelp contact Jo Ann Von Wald at (909) 307-8626. To report suspected abuse, or get advice on how to respond if you think a child is being abused, call Childhelp’s confidential, anonymous hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453).