Most people are shocked to learn that more than three children die each day in the United States as a result of child abuse in the home. Even more startling is the fact that the vast majority of these victims are under the age of six.
Why do infants and toddlers make up the majority of child abuse fatalities? What are the factors that play into caregivers critically harming these children? What is shaken baby syndrome? These are a few of the questions that Childhelp USA hopes to answer. Now, Childhelp, with help from Smoky Mountain Haven, a children’s advocate group has purchased 50 acres of land that were once Brookhaven Farms in Blount County.
The farm was sold earlier this year through public auction. The property comes equipped with two buildings one that is 14,000 square feet, a second that is 9,000 square feet. Childhelp will sell over 100 acres of property located in the Walden Creek area, which they had initially planned to use. The new facility will house a couple of dozen residents with ages ranging from 2 to twelve with plans for future growth. In addition, Childhelp will be working with many children who will be bused in from foster homes.
Childhelp USA, founded in 1959 by actresses Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson exists to meet the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused and neglected children. They do so by focusing their efforts in the areas of treatment, prevention, and research. Their philosophy is as follows: Childhelp USA believes that every child has a unique contribution to make to the world. They believe unconditional love is the foundation upon which all healing begins. And these children, who have seen the worst that life has to offer, deserve the best that we can provide while they are in the care of Childhelp USA.
The organization is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Currently regional sites are in Arizona, Michigan, California, New York, Virginia as well as Tennessee. They have had several celebrity ambassadors including actress Cheryl Ladd, Mary Costa, Phyllis Diller, Jane Seymour, Dr.Laura Schlessinger, Kathy Lee Gifford, Mary Hart and local actor David Keith, to name a few.
Dick Willey, Director of Southern Operations for Childhelp USA stated, “The property is going to be phenomenal for our purpose. It will save us over $2 million from the property that we had on Walden Creek. If someone had told me here is 50 acres – design what you what to do with it – I could not have done as good a job as this property was laid out.” The facility will have 2 public school classe rooms with some children coming for school, therapy or both.
The facility is not what you might expect. “We don’t build large buildings to house the kids,” said Willey. “We build 3 bedroom cottages which are theme oriented like 101 Dalmatians. We are working on a NASCAR theme now. It’s the farthest thing from an institutional environment that you’ve ever seen.”
Willey stated that they like community involvement whenever possible. “We like to include the community in any way that we can. People from the retirement community (and everyone else for that matter) are welcome to come work with us. There is a lady who comes to one of our west coast locations that the kids call Ms. Manners. Once a week she has a dinner in one of the cottages and the kids place the plates and silverware on the table and they learn their manners. They learn things that you or I take for granted.”
For more information of Childhelp USA or for volunteer opportunities, you can contact Childhelp USA locally at 637-1753.

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