Resources for Concerned Adults
If the child you care about is facing a crisis, take comfort knowing there are many organizations throughout the country that may be able to help. Information can be found by visiting the following websites.
Bullying
PACER – Founded in 2006, PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center actively leads social change to prevent childhood bullying, so that all youth are safe and supported in their schools, communities and online. PACER provides innovative resources for students, parents, educators, and others, and recognizes bullying as a serious community issue that impacts education, physical and emotional health, and the safety and well-being of students.
StopBullying.gov – StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on what bullying is, what cyberbullying is, who is at risk, and how to prevent and respond to bullying.
Child Abduction / Missing Children
Child Find of America – This organization is working towards the day when every child thrives in a safe and healthy environment. Child Find’s mission is to provide outstanding professional services designed to prevent and resolve child abduction and the family conflicts that can lead to abduction and abuse.
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) – The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) mission is to help find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation, and prevent child victimization. NCMEC works with families, victims, private industry, law enforcement and the public to assist with preventing child abductions, recovering missing children, and providing services to deter and combat child sexual exploitation. Its Team H.O.P.E. offers compassionate peer support, empathy, understanding, kindness, and friendship to families who are still searching, have recovered their children safely, have located their children deceased, and families with children who have been sexually exploited.
Polly Klaas Foundation – The Polly Klaas Foundation is dedicated to the safety of all children, the recovery of missing children, and public policies that keep children safe in their communities. Since their founding in 1993, the Foundation has used compassion, experience, and professionalism to help more than 10,000 families find missing children.
Child Abuse
Prevent Child Abuse America – Prevent Child Abuse America is the nation’s oldest and largest organization committed to preventing child abuse and neglect before it happens. They promote programs and resources informed by science that enable kids, families, and entire communities to thrive—today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
LGBTQ
PFLAG – Founded in 1973 after the simple act of a mother publicly supporting her gay son, PFLAG is the nation’s largest family and ally organization. PFLAG is the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents and families, and allies. With over 400 chapters and 200,000 members and supporters crossing multiple generations of families in major urban centers, small cities, and rural areas across America, PFLAG is committed to creating a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed.
Mental and Substance Abuse
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a government agency that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation and to improve the lives of individuals living with mental and substance use disorders, and their families. Its mission is to reduce the impact of substance misuse and mental illness on America’s communities.
Parenting Support
Center for Improvement of Child Care (CICC) – Since its founding as a non-profit community service, research and training organization in 1974, the California-based CICC has conducted a wide range of parenting education, support and advocacy services, projects and programs. Some have been of national scope, others statewide, countywide and citywide.
Circle of Parents – Circle of Parents provides a friendly, supportive environment led by parents and other caregivers. It’s a place where anyone in a parenting role can openly discuss the successes and challenges of raising children. Circle of Parents groups meet weekly, are free of charge and foster an open exchange of ideas, support, information and resources. These kinds of groups serve those parenting children of all ages and families of all types and are open across the country.
Sexual Abuse
OffenderWatch Initiative (OWI) – The OffenderWatch Initiative is dedicated to increasing public awareness of registered sex offenders through education, community notification, and better relations between the public and law enforcement. OWI supports legislation such as Megan’s Law, the Jessica Lunsford Act, the Adam Walsh Act, Jenna’s Law, Erin’s Law and other legislation to prevent future victimization.
Parents for Megan’s Law – The Crime Victims Center, Inc. (Parents for Megan’s Law) is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse and rape, the provision of comprehensive trauma informed support services to victims of violent crime, and elderly, minor, and disabled victims of all crime. Violence directed against victims is an abuse of power, often directed at our most vulnerable, and must be met with unwavering resolve to hold perpetrators accountable, and provide victims with the support and services they need.