Childhelp Blog

This weekend, The Arizona Republic newspaper highlighted the upcoming entertainment for the Childhelp Drive the Dream Gala.  (To read the article, click here.)

What makes the entertainmet so unique this year is that Gala attendees will be treated to a resurrection of the classic game show Hollywood Squares.  Original show host Peter Marshall will be on hand to once again perform hosting duties to a square full of hollywood stars.  It is sure to be a lot of fun! 

A few months ago, Childhelp was featured on an episode of the popular Dr. Phil program.  Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline Director Susan Schmidt sat in the audience for the show taping and took questions on air from Dr. Phil about child abuse and about the hotline. Dr. Phil ended the show by putting up the hotline number on screen, 1-800-4-A-CHILD, and telling everyone that this was a number they needed to write down and share with anyone who might need it.

Clips from the episode can be viewed here

Yesterday, the program re-aired around the country.  Both times it has aired, we have received a significant increase in calls to the hotline from people in crisis.  We are thankful to Dr. Phil for sharing with his readers the hotline number and information. 

More on child abuse from Dr. Phil here.

Also, please visit the Dr. Phil page on our own website here, where you can learn how to volunteer and donate to help us spread the word about the valuable resource of the hotline and help prevent child abuse.

Opened in December of 2007, the Childhelp River Bridge Center is a private/public partnership with Garfield County Department of Human Services, serving Garfield, Eagle and Pitkin counties of Colorado.

The center utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach to work exclusively with local child sexual abuse victims. All client referrals come from the Department of Human Services or local Law Enforcement (CRB is not a walk-in facility). CRB works in collaboration with Department of Human Services (DHS), sheriff departments, police departments, medical and mental health professionals, school counselors, public prosecutors and victim’s rights advocates from the District Attorney and Sherriff’s office. 

In their first year of operation, CRB has worked with over 115 local children (ages 3 to18 years) who have been sexually abused.

Recently there was a great article in the Aspen Times of Colorado that spoke about the excellent work the center is doing ni the area.  You can read the whole article by clicking here.

About 3 months ago, we sent out a press release calling attention to our observation that the threat of child abuse can increase during economic downturns.  Our goal with the release was to raise awareness and to let people know that we have preventative programs and services available to help keep abuse from happening.

The release struck a note with news outlets, and Childhelp spokespersons have done numerous radio and print interviews to help spread the word and alert everyone of the risk.

Today, the Washington Post has a story about the increase in the child abuse cases that have been hitting the DC Metropolitan area.  Childhelp Executive Director John Reid is quoted in the story.  To read the full story, click here.

Childhelp Crystal Darkness is a 30 minute documentary on the dangers and prevalence of the drug methamphetamine. The film features powerful testimonies of young people who have gone through the horrors of Meth addiction as well as high profile politicians and law enforcement officials.

This Emmy award winning documentary is the centerpiece of a city by city, state by state campaign and has garnered the attention of residents in regions across the United States when it airs. In Arizona alone last April, the program reached an estimated 2.5 million residents and took over 1,200 phone calls from persons seeking help with meth addiction

Childhelp Crystal Darkness is the newest program for Childhelp.  As part of this program, we have set up a hot line, 1-888-METH-AID, in addition to our child abuse hot line, 1-800-4-A-CHILD. Childhelp made the move to be active in meth awareness as it is reported that over two-thirds of the cases of child abuse have a direct correlation to meth use or production by the child’s parents or guardian.

On January 7th, the state of Colorado will air the documentary.  On  January 13th, it will air in the state of Oklahoma.

On December 22nd, 2008, at 3:30pm the Prova Salon hosted a hair makeover event for all of the residents at the Childhelp Group Homes.  The children and teen girls were treated to complimentary hair cuts and styles, hair products, brow waxing, make up and a pizza party. 

This event was sparked by Cindi Battisti, the Vice President of the Childhelp Wings Arizona Chapter. Cindi is a client of Prova Salon, and after mentioning the Childhelp Group Home Program, the salon immediately wanted to do something wonderful for the girls to boost their self-esteem.  All of the girls looked amazing, and each one left smiling and giggling with their new look.  This was an amazing event for all who were involved. 

A very special thank you to the Prova Salon for their generosity!

Watch Childhelp Drive the Dream Chef Scott Tompkins from Skye Restaurant and Gala co-chair Carol Cook discuss the upcoming event. Watch video by clicking here, the video is in the top right corner.

Yesterday,the Arizona Diamondbacks Charities hosted 75 children from the Childhelp Cummings Community Center.  The children all enjoyed lunch, games on the field, autographs with players, photos with Santa, gift bags and new athletic shoes complements of the Diamondbacks.

Special guests included Diamondbacks owner and Childhelp Board Member Ken Kendrick, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and Diamondbacks mascot Baxter.

Last night, NFL player Bertrand Berry took 50 kids from the Childhelp KEYS Community Center for a shopping spree at a local Target store.  This event was the 5th year in a row that Bertrand has done his "B-Train Holiday Express" with Childhelp.

For nearly two hours, Bertrand and a few of his Arizona Cardinal's teammates pushed shopping carts around the store and helped the kids find toys and gifts.

The event received significant media coverage, and footage was on the 10pm news on four different local TV stations.  Prior to the event, the Arizona Republic ran a feature story on Bertrand and his impact in the community (read it here)

Childhelp is very thankful to Bertrand, his wife Shellie and his teammates Anquan Boldin, Jerheme Urban, Alex Shor, Matt Ware, Lance Long and Pago Toagafau who all made last night such a wonderful event.

For more information on the Bertrand Berry Foundation, click here