Dear Lambies,

How I wish each and every one of you could have been with me on my recent trip to Phoenix, Arizona on behalf of Childhelp USA.

Even though I have been involved with this amazing organization for four years it was not until I physically visited their extraordinary facility that I truly understood how unique, how revolutionary their vision is.

First, a few facts: every 10 seconds a child is reported abused in our nation. Three million cases of abuse are reported a year and every day 3 children die because of abuse. Just since I sat down to write to you some 10 children have had their childhoods stolen from them.

It is our national shame that we sit by with our curtains drawn and refuse to recognize the truth and do something about it.

The Childhelp USA facility in Phoenix is a revelation. Think about it: The person who abuses a child often tells them "if you tell anyone about this, they’re going to take you to jail." And what do we do as a society when we (finally) respond to the accusation of abuse? We take the child to the police station and interrogate them in the same room as rapists and murderers! Then we send them to a sterile, cold, hospital and examine them and then we throw them into the child protective services system, which is often a nightmare in itself. The whole process usually takes 3 weeks — three weeks of more trauma and pain for a child that has already been hideously abused.

This doesn’t happen in Phoenix! And it’s my sincere belief it doesn’t have to happen anywhere in our country!

When a child comes to Childhelp USA in Phoenix they immediately enter a child-friendly world of kindness, love and understanding. The gardens are gorgeous, the playroom is magical, the interrogation room is warm and inviting, the doctors are loving and tender, the detectives are plain-clothed and non-threatening, and the counselors and lawyers are trained, sensitive and totally devoted to their welfare…ALL UNDER ONE ROOF & THE RESULT IS THE WHOLE PROCESS TAKES THREE HOURS.

Prosecutions rise significantly because the child feels safe to share their experience.

I truly have never seen anything so smart and so loving at the same time. Something happened to me while I visited the facility with my old friend, Chuck Bolte, who now is the Chief Operating Officer of Childhelp USA.

I felt the same thing I felt when I held my first AIDS baby back in 1990 and I knew I couldn’t rest until something changed for these children.

This is my new purpose and I don’t know where it’s going to lead me but I do know this: God loves these children even more than we do and He will provide a way to help us to help them.

Child abuse crosses all ethnic, economic, religious, and political boundaries. It is the scourge and great shame of our nation and each day we remain silent we become guilty ourselves of negligence.

I know this sounds severe, but if you could have seen what I saw and heard what I heard, I know you would understand the conviction I feel in my own heart…

Kathie Lee