Resources

For Families

Teencentral.com is a popular, anonymous help-line website where teens can talk freely with each other, with complete confidentiality and privacy. It enables them to find the help they're looking for as well as to help others in need.

For families in crisis, the Independent Educational Consultants Association, iecaonline.com, can provide names of licensed educational consultants in your area. IECA members are required to have advanced degrees in the field and are forbidden from taking referral fees from any school or program.

An excellent resource for parents of at-risk teens is Lon Woodbury's website, strugglingteens.com. They are members of IECA.

Kidspeace, in thirteen states, offers a wide range of residential and community services, continuing education, volunteer and donating opportunities. Kidspeace.org also has great information on topics such as eating disorders, bullying, teen suicide, etc.

In greater Phoenix, HomeBase Youth Services teaches at-risk and homeless youth how to live healthy and independent live. Visit hbys.org.

In the Baltimore area, the Sidran Institute helps people understand, recover from and treat traumatic stress, addictions, self-injury and suicidality. www.sidran.org.

"I've Got This Friend Who...," Hazeldon Press, 2007, is an interactive book designed to help teens handle difficult situations and high-risk pressures, from alcohol or drug use to eating disorders and self-harm. With personal stories, fast facts and self-tests, teens can learn to recognize when trouble arises, where to find help and how to take care of themselves when feeling overwhelmed. You can find the book at www.kidspeace.org.

 

For Help with Sexual Abuse

• Childhelp childhelp.org is the nation's leading organization dedicated to the treatment and prevention of child abuse. They have a 24-hour help line - 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453.)

• R.A.I.N.N. Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network rainn.org can locate the counseling centers nearest you.

• Darkness to Light, darknesstolight.org, provides information on how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.

In the Baltimore area, the Shofar Coalition is a group of social agencies that addresses the needs of Jewish children and families exposed to sexual, physical and emotional abuse and neglect. www.sidran.org.

For help in cases where abuse has already been reported

• Justice For Children justiceforchildren.org provides legal advocacy and services for abused and neglected children.

Nothing will change unless the laws change

One in three or four girls and one in five or six boys are victimized. PROTECT, protect.org, is the only PAC/lobbying group devoted solely to child abuse. Children can’t vote. Please vote for them. Join PROTECT and give our children the same clout in the capitol that we give to guns, whales, and clean air.

The cost of child sexual abuse to society is staggering:
• 50-80% of those who suffer from mental illness (including depression and bipolar disorder) were sexually or physically abused.
• 60-80% of those in drug abuse programs report being sexually abused.
• Over 75% of female juvenile delinquents have been sexually abused.
• 83.8% of convicted killers suffered severe abuse as children, 32% sexually.
• Approx. 95% teen prostitutes were sexually abused.
• 80% of women incarcerated were victims of abuse.
• 60% of teen mothers were sexually abused.
• Child sexual abuse survivors are nearly twice as likely to be raped and four times more likely to be battered by a partner.
• 43% of adolescent runaways were sexually abused as children.

Figures from Survivors Healing Center Fact Sheets: Prevalence in the general U.S. population and specific subgroups & Effects on the child and on adult survivors.