What Is It?
The Childhelp National Day of Hope is observed on the first Wednesday of April each year. This day holds immense importance during National Child Abuse Prevention Month. It serves as a call to action, urging our nation to make a lifelong commitment to combat child abuse and neglect.
Origins and Purpose
- Our founders, Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, worked closely with the Carter Administration. Together, they designated April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month—a crucial step in acknowledging the grave issue of child abuse and neglect.
- On February 14, 2000, Congress unanimously voted to designate the first Wednesday of April as the Childhelp National Day of Hope.
- This day is a solemn tribute to the little ones who lost their lives due to abuse and neglect. Simultaneously, it honors the precious children still fighting for their lives.
Virtual Advocacy: Making a Difference
- Traditionally, Childhelp has organized events on Capitol Hill during April. These events allow us to meet with Senators and Representatives, express gratitude for their work in child welfare, and highlight our successful programs.
- In recent times, due to the pandemic, we’ve shifted to a virtual fly-in format. Advocates engage directly with members of Congress and their staff, emphasizing the needs of our programs and the vulnerable children we serve.
- Why participate? Because Congress values the voices of their constituents. By sharing what matters in our communities and advocating for child welfare, we turn our concerns into actionable data points.
- Notably, these efforts led to much-needed grant funding for the National Child Abuse Hotline.
What Happens During Virtual Meetings?
- Time Commitment: The day’s schedule is flexible. Meetings occur throughout the day, both in person and virtually. Each meeting with your specific Member of Congress lasts about 30 minutes.
- Topics of Discussion:
- State of Child Welfare: We educate Members of Congress about the current state of child welfare.
- Childhelp’s Impact: We highlight the impactful ways Childhelp serves abused and neglected children through our programs and outreach efforts.
- Funding Needs: We emphasize the need for continuous funding for the National Child Abuse Hotline, advocate for the passage of the long-overdue Child Abuse Prevention Treatment Act (CAPTA), and stress the importance of funding the Victims Of Crime Act (VOCA).
- Pandemic Effects: We address the lasting effects of the pandemic on our hurting children and nonprofit organizations like Childhelp.
Who Attends?
- At least one Childhelp staff member participates in each meeting.
- Advocates and volunteers, including Childhelp board and chapter members, join the discussions.
- Senior Congressional Staff and Members of Congress actively engage.
A Call for Hope
On this Childhelp National Day of Hope, let us unite in compassion. Together, we can create a safer world for our children—one where hope prevails over adversity.
Remember, our collective efforts can transform lives and protect the most vulnerable among us. 🌟🌱