The bus tour, designed to raise awareness and draw attention to the issue of child abuse in America, will be in San Diego for an event to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Childhelp founders’ USO trip to Japan. It was on this trip overseas that the founders first helped starving orphans and began the mission of Childhelp. The event will be held on the USS Midway from 6:30pm-11:00pm, Friday, May 1. 

The 40 foot bus is a wrapped in an attention grabbing design meant to bring awareness to the cause. It will cover an estimated 20,000 miles on its 20 month journey to health fairs, sports events, popular tourist venues and concerts across the U.S. Childhelp plans to hold an event in each state capitol to recognize a deserving child advocate in the community for serving and protecting children. The tour’s goal is to create a grassroots groundswell of support through joining Childhelp’s national membership group. Through this group, members will be updated on legislation, tips, facts, stats and ways to get involved in their communities to end child abuse.

According to a set of newly released statistics, 1760 children died in the U.S. in 2007 from child abuse and neglect – or nearly five children per day. Based on a UNICEF report, the United States has abuse and neglect death rates that are 10-15 times higher than the average for leading countries – representing 42% of the world’s total of deaths of children under the age of 15.

Unlike other childhood diseases, the cure for this horrible epidemic is available to all children. All it requires is support and strength from each community. Childhelp is focused on encouraging and providing resources for parents, families and caregivers around the country.

Childhelp has accomplished much and made an impact in the lives of millions of children over the last 50 years, though much more needs to be done. Child abuse cases have been increasing across the nation as CPS workers are being laid off during budget cuts and parents struggling with financial problems are venting their frustrations on their children. Recent studies have estimated that the impact of child abuse to American society is over $100 billion annually.