The Children’s Burn Foundation is an American not-for-profit organisation established in 1985 with the mission to help children who have been severely injured in childhood. It is located in Sherman Oaks, California. According to the official website, the mission of the Children’s Burn Foundation “is to alleviate the emotional and physical suffering experienced by young children and their families as a direct result of medical negligence, paediatric abuse, or other catastrophic events.” The organisation aims to help children heal from their experiences. As of this writing, it has helped provide medical care to more than 250 children and families in the Pacific Northwest.
The Children’s Burn Foundation was created to help children who were injured in a fire caused by faulty electrical equipment. The organisation also rescues animals that have been abused or abandoned due to traumatic circumstances. There are several branches located in Oregon, Washington State, California and New Mexico. Services are extended throughout the United States. It was recently listed on the Inc. 5000 List.
The Children’s Burn Foundation believes that children do not deserve to suffer or be traumatised after being abused, neglected or exposed to an abusive situation. They believe that children should be raised to believe that they are loved, nurtured and that their individual worth is important. When children lack these values, they are more likely to experience neglect, violence, emotional and mental abuse, and other negative influences. This can affect their physical and emotional health through what they see and experience during their early years.
The foundation strives to build healthy relationships between children and families. They believe that children need unconditional love and understanding. These values should guide every decision the children make, including those that relate to their bodies, emotions, self-image and relationships. The values instilled in children at the Children’s Burn Foundation have been shown to decrease the rates of school dropouts and increase the rate of graduation.
There are several programmes and activities that are offered for children to help them develop a healthy behaviour. By participating in these and other activities, children are learning how to deal with their emotions and developing a sense of who they really are. They are learning how to build a strong sense of self worth and a sense of what they want out of life. Through the creative and motivational efforts of the foundation, children begin to acquire these skills and become more capable human beings.
The focus of the Children Burn Foundation isn’t just about preventing the death of a child due to emotional problems. The emphasis is on preventing unnecessary suffering. Through the provision of education, care and nurturing, children learn that they are all valuable and that all people have a right to live a life worthy of happiness. This valuable information inspires children to live their lives in a way that is consistent with their values and aspirations.
The Foundation also provides support for other children. Through the purchase and distribution of items such as books and hygiene products, the foundation raises funds and educates the community on the dangers of using harmful products. They sponsor bake sales, sell tickets for concerts and events and distribute Bibles. In order to further their cause, they offer free counselling to families who are struggling. In addition to the free literature and counselling, they offer classes teaching children how to cook nutritious meals, how to do arts and crafts, and how to read. They also host fundraisers for needy families.
As one would expect with an organisation that has such a noble cause, controversial issues are raised as well. For example, one of the most controversial events occurred when two children died after walking into a burning building. While no adults were present, it is believed that the children were attempting to seek treatment for an illness when they fell victims to the blaze. Although no official charges were filed against the adults or the building’s management, local authorities opened an investigation. Eventually, the children’s parents were convicted and later sentenced to two and a half years of probation.