How Do Helplines Support Children and Families?

Helplines provide referrals to community and government resources that support parents and other caregivers in raising their children safely and successfully. By connecting children and families to upstream services, helplines can be an effective strategy in efforts to prevent child welfare system involvement. These helplines are intended to be proactive, providing immediate upstream support to families experiencing a crisis or an unmet need, therefore preventing potential child maltreatment down the road.

This Casey Family Programs brief highlights various helplines implemented across the country but focuses on helplines intended to prevent child welfare system involvement. However, some helplines are designed specifically to provide targeted support to families and older youth already involved in the child welfare system.