How Do I Learn More?

If you need help, please call one of the following hotlines 24 hours/day, 7 days/week:
• Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) - the professional crisis counselors at this hotline help kids and teens who are being abused or neglected.
• National Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-800-442-HOPE (1-800-442-4673) - this hotline is for teens dealing with pregnancy, molestation, suicide, and child abuse. They provide counseling and referrals to local shelters, counseling services, and drug treatment centers.
• Girls and Boys Town Suicide and Crisis Line: 1-800-448-3000 or 1-800-448-1833 (TDD) - the counselors on this hotline deal with topics like physical and sexual abuse, runaways, suicide, pregnancy, parent-child conflicts, and marital/family issues, as well as many others. They provide short-term crisis intervention and counseling, as well as referrals to local community resources. Check out their website for more info.
• Covenant House Hotline: 1-800-999-9999 - this is a crisis line for youth, teens, and families, providing help regarding abuse, runaways, drugs, homelessness, and other issues. The can refer you to local community services.
• National Runaway Switchboard: 1-800-621-4000 - this is a crisis line for kids who have run away. They can help you talk out your problems and reconnect with your family if you want to do so.

To learn more about child abuse and neglect, check out these sites:
(Some of these pages may take a long time to load and you may need Acrobat Reader to view some of them - if you don’t have it, click here to get it.)

• Teen Hang-Out from PlainTalk, Inc. - great info on abuse and dating violence
• Abuse from TeenHealth - info on abuse, including how to recognize abuse and what to do
• What Kids and Teens Should Know about Child Abuse - how to protect yourself and how to get help
• Tips for Kids: What to Do About Abuse or Neglect from Prevent Child Abuse America
• When Parents Drink Too Much - what to do if your mom or dad drinks a lot of alcohol
• Children of Alcoholics/Substance Abusers Kid’s Page - more about what to do if your mom or dad drinks or does drugs
• Children of Alcoholics/Substance Abusers - for College Students - great info for older teens, especially if you are preparing for college
• Teen Safety on the Information Highway - how to protect yourself when you’re surfing the Net
• Massachusetts Department of Social Services for Teens - answers, programs, and information about DSS specifically for teens in MA. You can also call the Teen Peer Line for info about DSS, foster-care, services, etc. at 1-800-238-7868, weekdays 9 AM - 5 PM