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Are You a Caregiver or a Parent Looking for Support?

Getting Help Is Easy by Calling Our Helpline at 1-800-CHILDREN


Whether you’re a new parent overwhelmed by the demands of caring for an infant, a grandparent starting over and raising your grandchildren, an auntie who never expected to be a parent, or a veteran parent whose teenaged child is out of control, asking for help is never easy. Too often caregivers and parents feel isolated without much support. They confront the toughest and most important job in the world with the sense that they have to go it alone. But no one needs to go it alone.

 

Our Helpline can help you find programs and services in your community that can help. The Helpline at 1-800-CHILDREN is an information and referral line that can help direct you to the services you need. It is free, confidential, and multi-lingual.  This is NOT the NYS Child Abuse Hotline. If you would like to report suspected child abuse, please call 1-800-342-3720. If you are in a crisis situation or are having a life-threatening emergency, please call 911. If you need assistance locating services such as parenting skills classes, domestic violence services, or child care, we can help.

 

Trained staff is available to assist you Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.  If you call outside of those hours, you can leave a message and our support person will return your call as soon as possible. Please remember this is NOT a crisis line. If you need immediate assistance with an emergency call 911.

 

If you live outside of New York, you can find your state’s Prevent Child Abuse chapter by calling 1-800-CHILDREN or at Prevent Child Abuse America.

 

How We Help

 

Louisa called 1-800-CHILDREN concerned that she could not provide for her three-year-old son Lincoln. She was worried that she might lose him because she couldn't take care of him. We told her about an alternative and connected her to a community program that could help walk her through the process of applying for aid and low-cost health insurance. They also referred her to a community organization where she could get food staples, toiletries, and diapers. Louisa was able to keep Lincoln at home and get back on her feet.

 

Susan called the Helpline looking for answers. She learned her 11-year-old granddaughter Emily, whom she was raising, was being sexually abused. Stunned and panic-stricken, Susan didn’t know what to do to get help for Emily. We suggested several options and resources, including places where Emily could receive treatment and mental health services. We also referred Susan to her district attorney to begin the process of pressing charges.

 

Marcus called the Helpline searching for parenting skills and anger management classes. He was petitioning for joint custody of his two sons and the classes were a condition of the court. We were able to refer Marcus out to an organization on the bus line near his job and his sons' day care, so that he could easily make it to the classes and still pick his sons up on time.

 

Our Parent Helpline is uniquely positioned to help pepple like these. With an extensive database of programs and resources, we help families explore their options and connect them to sources of help. This assures that parents and caregivers who have taken that critical first step toward help are heading down a path that leads to a solution.

 

Helpline Fast Facts


Founded: 1986
Service Provided: Information & Referral
Who Calls:

  • Parents and Caregivers: 50%

  • Professionals: 33%

  • Others: 17%

Most Common Information and Referrals Provided:

  • Parenting education programs

  • Preventive services

  • Services for disengaged youth

  • Information about navigating the child protective system*

  • Information about custody and other legal issues*

*This is not a legal service. We are not licensed to provide legal advice or services.

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