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Happy 20th Anniversary!

Since our phone lines went live in May 1989, Kids Help Phone’s professional counsellors have been providing help and hope to young people in your community. We’re celebrating 20 years of being there for kids!

Thank you for helping us celebrate 20 years!
	Thank you for helping us celebrate this important milestone by helping us build our special 20th Anniversary Virtual Mosaic. Thanks to all of those who helped us celebrate 20 years of being there for kids by submitting your stories and photos. Here is Kids Help Phone’s 20th Anniversary Mosaic image: Congratulations to Erin Nicholson from Medicine Hat, AB for being the lucky winner of our 20th Anniversary Mosaic draw. Erin has won a 3G Motorola Hint QA30 Smartphone and MOTOROKR S9-HD Wireless High Definition Stereo Headphones.

	On May 16, 1989, Kids Help Phone’s phone lines went live. Here is CityTV Toronto’s coverage of Kids Help Phone’s first day of service.

	In May 1988, the Canadian Children’s Foundation (CCF) was preparing to launch Kids Help Phone as a service for kids and teens in need across Canada. To help establish long-term, local support, CCF sent a request letter to Junior Leagues across Canada asking for their help in starting a local Kids Help Phone chapter.

	When Kids Help Phone’s lines opened in 1989, young people’s access to confidential, anonymous counselling was revolutionized. Kids began to reach out by the hundreds of thousands, and they haven’t stopped since. Twenty years later Kids Help Phone has touched the lives of a generation of children and youth in Canada.
Thanks to this remarkable relationship between young people and our counsellors, we continue to be a trusted source of support, information and hope for kids today. A complete historical timeline is available here.

	Now, more than ever, we need your help to ensure we can continue being there for kids. Kids who often have nowhere else to turn for safe and trustworthy help. When parents, schools and social services are unavailable, closed, backlogged or simply not accessible because of distance, Kids Help Phone is there.
With your support, our next 20 years will be as successful as the first.

Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead.