"A child's life is like a piece of paper on which every passersby leaves a mark."
Chinese Proverb
Below is a compilation of nationwide child welfare hotlines I have acquired through various books and online resources. It is my hope that the information provided on this page will, in some small way, be of help to a handful of the millions of young people who are abused, or otherwise conflicted, daily. Please take a moment to look it over, and give special thought to James Bulger, whose story was the inspiration behind its making.
If you are the founder of an organization listed on this page, and for whatever reason wish to see it removed, please let me know. Moreover, if you are a reader who knows of any other helplines which you feel should be included on this page, you can contribute by e-mailing me the name and number of the organization, as well as a brief description. Any contribution is greatly appreciated.
Parents Anonymous
Phone: (909) 621-6184
Description: Parents Anonymous encourages all parents to ask for help to break the cycle of abuse to protect today's children and strengthen tomorrow's generation of parents.
NSPCC Child Protection Helpline (UK)
Phone: 0800 800 500
Description: 24-hour service, counseling, advice, referrals for children at risk of abuse and neglect. Please report suspected abuse/neglect cases.
CHILDLINE UK
Phone: 0800 11 11
Description: A toll-free national helpline for children and youth in trouble or danger throughout the UK.
CHILDLINE South Africa
Phone: 0800 55555
Description: A toll-free hotline and associated treatment center which offers free counseling by phone or in person, for children and youth dealing with physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, and to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The hotline is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Kids Help Line (Australia)
Phone: 1-800-55-1800
Description: Kids Help Line is a toll-free, 24-hour counseling service for children and youth throughout Australia.
Kids Help Phone (Canada)
Phone: 1-800-668-6868
Description: Canada's only toll-free national hotline for children and youth. Kids Help Phone counselors speak to kids from across Canada who have questions and concerns about issues like relationships, school, bullying, suicide and abuse. Whatever the problem, counselors are there to provide support, information and, if necessary, referral to a local community or social service agency. Bilingual (English and French).
CHILDHELP USA Hot Line
Phone: 1-800-422-4453 (if you reach a recording, press one to speak with someone)
Description: Child Help USA is dedicated to meeting the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused and neglected children. The toll-free hotline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico. It assists an approximate 134,000 callers annually, and provides crisis counseling for children as well as adults, and nationwide referrals to services for children and families.
Child Welfare League of America
Phone: (202) 638-2952
Description: Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Child Welfare League of America is the oldest and largest national nonprofit organization developing and promoting policies and programs to protect America's children and strengthen America's families. It's 1,000 plus public and private nonprofit member agencies serve some 3 million abused, abandoned and neglected children, youth, and their families yearly, and is the world's largest publisher of child welfare materials.
The National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse
Phone: (800) 556-2722
Description: Headquartered in Chicago, the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse is a nonprofit organization with the goal of preventing child abuse in all its forms. NCPCA promotes public education through its national media campaign, a catalog of publications, training, and technical assistance. Chapters of the national organization can be found throughout the United States.
KidsPeace Helpline
Phone: 1-800-334-4KID / (1-800-334-4543)
Description: KidsPeace is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the critical behavioral and mental health needs of children, preadolescents, and teens in crisis. If needed, referral services are offered, as well as information and counseling.
Youth Crisis Hotline
Phone: 1-800-HIT-HOME
Description: Services for runaway/homeless youth, referrals to resources for abuse, crisis counseling.
Cymru/Wales Child Protection Helpline
Phone: 0808 100 2524.
Description: Child Protection Helpline for Children of Cymru/Wales. Phone lines are open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM. If you need help or advice outside these hours, please do not hesitate to call. Your call will be transferred to a 24-hour Child Protection Helpline in London.
Boys Town National Hotline
Phone: 800-448-3000
Description: For children and parents in any type of personal crisis. Trained counselors will provide help in abusive relationships, parent-child conflicts, pregnancy, runaway youth, suicide, physical and sexual abuse. Operates 24 hours.
Covenant House Nineline
Phone: 800-999-9999
Description: Crisis line for youth, teens, and families. Locally based referrals throughout the United States. Help for youth and parents regarding drugs, abuse, homelessness, runaway children, and message relays. Operates 24 hours.
National Youth Crisis Hotline
Phone: 800-442-HOPE (442-4673)
Description: Provides service for children and youth who are abused, suicidal, chemically dependent, depressed over family or school problems, runaway or abandoned. Operates 24 hours.
Just For Kids Hotline
Phone: 1-888-594-KIDS
Description: Help for children in crisis.
Crises Hotline
Phone: 1-800-782-7335
Description: Are you depressed or sad? Too many problems? Call the National Youth Crises Hotline.
Ohel Child Abuse Reporting Hotline
Phone: 718-851-6300 or 1-800 603-OHEL
Description: Services for children and family suffering abuse.
Youth 2 Youth
Phone: 0181 896 3675
Description: Youth 2 Youth provides a National Helpline service for young people under the age of 23. We are a new project which provides both a telephone and e-mail Helpline. Our unique service allows you to talk confidentially to our team of trained, young volunteers.
The Children and Youth Telephone (Belgium)
Phone: 078 15 14 13
Description: Elke dag tussen 16 en 20 uur behalve op zon-en feestdagen.
IRELAND'S Garda (Police) Confidential Line
Phone: 1800 666 111
Description: This toll-free phone number allows you to leave information confidentially on a voice recorder, so you do not speak to any person. Remember, all details will be handled with strictest confidence. You can leave your name and contact details if you wish, as there is a difference between confidentiality and anonymity.
Ireland Child Help Line by ISPCC
Phone: 1800-666-666
Description: Listens to children in need.
NETHERLANDS Hotline for Kids in Trouble
Phone: (+31) 06-0432
Description: 14:00-20:00 hrs, everyday.
No Bully
Phone: 0800-NO-BULLY (0800-66-28-55)
Description: For children who are the victims of bullying.
PHILIPPINES Bantay Bata 163 Child Abuse Hotline
Phone: Dial 163
Description: Conducts rescue operations based on crisis calls on the 163 hotline number. The Hotline operates 24 hours a day with trained counselors and social workers working on a daily 3-shift basis. Volunteer for social work.
ITALY'S Telefono Azzurro
Phone: 1.96.96
Description: Numero gratuito riservato ai bambini.
ELEM (Israel)
Tel Aviv: (03) 641-4508 or (03)-641-8792
Description: Hotline for youth under stress or in danger.
ELI (Israel)
Tel Aviv: 177-022-3966 (Toll-free)
Description: Society protecting the kids.
Meital (Israel)
Tel Aviv: (03) 525-3206
Description: The Israeli help center for sexually abused kids.
Makom Acher (Israel)
Tel Aviv: (03)-517-6135 or (03)-517-6246
Description: A safe house for kids who need it.
ERAN (Israel)
Tel Aviv: Dial 1201 anywhere in Israel
Description: Psychological first aid for troubled youth.
NSPCC Asian Child Abuse Help Lines
Description: This toll-free Asian helpline is open 1100 to 1900, Monday through Friday and has different numbers for each language.
Phone (Bengali/Sylheti): 0800 096 7714
Phone (Gujarati): 0800 096 7715
Phone (Hindi): 0800 096 7716
Phone (Punjabi): 0800 096 7717
Phone (Urdu): 0800 096 7718
Phone (English Asian Service): 0800 096 7719
