There are many resources available for children and families in the community. Listed below are some of the agencies who are available to help.
Family Support and Abuse Prevention
Childcare
Adolescents and Runaways
Disabilities
Domestic Violence
Drug Abuse
Health Services, Food and Nutrition
Missing and Exploited Children
Sexual Violence
Suicide
Additional Resources
FAMILY SUPPORT AND ABUSE PREVENTION
Florida's Parent Support HelpLine 1-800-FLA-LOVE
Provides confidential counseling and referral to parents who are stressed, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Abuse Hotline - 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873)
Florida hotline determines if the information presented complies with the mandates in law and assists all callers with information and referral to enhance the safety and well being of children and vulnerable adults. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Child Help USA - 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453
Offers crisis intervention, information and referrals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Prevent Child Abuse America - 1-800-244-5373
An automated phone resource for information on preventing child abuse in your community. www.preventchildabuse.org
Florida Respite Coalition - 1-866-FL-RELIEF (1-866-357-3543)
Empowers families to receive quality respite care through coordinated efforts and public support, promotes awareness of the need for greater availability and quality of respite care and identifies issues concerning respite funding, quality and standards. Available 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday to Friday.
National Respite Care Locator Service - 1-800-773-5433
Respite, a break for caregivers and families, is a service in which temporary care is provided to a child or adult with disabilities or chronic or terminal illnesses and to persons at risk of abuse and neglect. This line helps parents, caregivers and professionals find respite services in their state and local area. Available 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday to Friday.
National Parent Information Network - 1-800-583-4135
Provides access to research based information about the process of parenting and family involvement in education and to help families make good decisions about raising and educating children. Available 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday to Friday.
Parents Without Partners - 1-800-637-7974
Provides single parents and their children with an opportunity for enhancing personal growth, self confidence and sensitivity towards others by offering real help in the way of discussions, professional speakers, study groups, publications and social activities for families and adults. Available 8:30 - 5:00 P.M. Monday to Friday.
Grandparent Information Center - 1-800-424-3410
A resource for grandparents raising grandchildren, professionals, support groups, researchers and policy makers. www.aarp.org
Children's Home Society - 1-800-247-4600
Redirects a teen's troubled life onto a new path of hope, provides a safe harbor for a child suffering from abuse and reverses crisis situations so lives are changed for the better. Available 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.
CHILDCARE
Child Care Aware - 1-800-424-2246
A non profit initiative committed to helping parents find the best information on locating quality child care and child care resources in their community by connecting parents with local agencies best equipped to serve their needs. This is an automated response system; callers leave their name, number, etc. and will receive a call back within 24 hours.
National Resource Center for Health and Safety of Childcare - 1-800-598-5437
Provides referrals to local agencies for childcare information. Operates from 7:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
ADOLESCENTS AND RUNAWAYS
National Call center for At-Risk Youth - 1-800-USA-KIDS (1-800-872-5437)
Provides counseling, crisis intervention, case advocacy, referrals and messages between parents and runaway youth. Areas of Assistance are behavioral problems, child abuse, child exploitation, eating disorders (including Anorexia and Bulimia), depression, teen suicide, missing children, runaways, sexual safety, substance abuse, teen pregnancy and teen parenting. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Covenant House Nineline - 1-800-999-9999
Provides food, shelter, clothing, crisis care, health care, education, vocational training, drug abuse treatment and prevention programs, legal services, recreation, mother/child programs, transitional living programs, street outreach and aftercare. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. www.covenanthouse.org
The National Runaway Switchboard - 1-800-621-4000
Provides non-judgmental, confidential crisis intervention and referrals. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. www.nrscrisisline.org.
National Youth Crisis Hotline - 1-800-HIT-HOME (1-800-448-4663)
A referral hotline for youth aged 17 and under in crisis situations. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
DISABILITIES
CHADD - 1-800-233-4050
A national non profit organization providing education, advocacy and support for individuals with ADD/ADHD. Automated phone service.
Eric Clearinghouse on Disabled and Gifted Education - 1-800-328-0272
Increasing and facilitating the use of educational research and information to improve practice in learning, teaching, educational decision making and research. Informational packets on ADD, ADHD, behavior disorders and other disabilities, as well as gifted student information are available.
Family Network on Disabilities - 1-800-825-5736
Provides family driven support, education, information and advocacy. Available 8:30 to 4:30, Monday to Friday.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence - 1-800-500-1119
Links callers to the nearest domestic violence center and provides translation assistance when needed. Maintains a resource library of books, periodicals, videos and other resources regarding domestic violence issues. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
National Center for Victims of Crime - 1-800-FYI-CALL (1-800-394-2255)
Offers crime victims, victim service providers, criminal justice officials, attorneys and concerned individuals practical information on the most appropriate local services for victims of crime. Refers callers to an array of critical services including crisis intervention, research information, assistance with the criminal justice process, counseling and support groups. Available Monday to Friday, 8:30 A.M. to 8:30 P.M. EST.
DRUG ABUSE
Narcotics Anonymous Narcanon Aerohead - 1-800-468-6933
A support group for people recovering from drug addiction. Membership is open to any drug addict, regardless of the particular drug or combination of drugs used. Non conventional residential treatment center. Available 7:00 - 11:30 P.M., 7 days a week.
National Clearinghouse for Drug and Alcohol Info - 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357)
An information resource equipped to respond to the public's alcohol, tobacco and drug inquiries (English, Spanish and TDD capability) and distribute free or low cost culturally diverse prevention, intervention and treatment resources tailored for use by parents, teachers, youth, communities and prevention/treatment professionals.
HEALTH SERVICES, FOOD AND NUTRITION
Healthy Baby Hotline Family Health Line - 1-800-451-2229
Assists pregnant women in accessing prenatal care and substance abuse treatment during pregnancy and provides information on helpful community resources. All Calls are confidential and are answered by trained counselors who are available 8:00 A.M. - 11:00 P.M. Monday to Friday and 10:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M. weekends. Closed on holidays.
La Leche League - 1-800-525-3243
Provides telephone counseling, referral and extensive information on breast feeding 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Pregnancy Helpline - 1-800-238-4269
A crisis pregnancy line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Food Stamps Hotline - 1-800-224-3470 or 1-800-342-9274
Pre-screens clients for food stamps and provides referrals to local resources for food 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) - 1-800-342-3556
WIC provides the following at no cost; healthy foods, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding support and referrals for health care. 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.
MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN
Child Find Hotline - 1-800-426-5678
Locates missing children through active investigation, prevents child abduction through education and resolves incidents of parental abduction through mediation. 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday to Friday. Voicemail during evenings and weekends.
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)
Provides assistance to parents, children, law enforcement, schools and the community in recovering missing children and raising public awareness about ways to help prevent child abduction, molestation and sexual exploitation.
Vanished Children's Alliance - 1-800-VANISHED (1-800-826-4743)
Provides nationwide and overseas assistance to families in all categories of missing children; non family (stranger) abductions, family abductions and runaways. 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. (Pacific)
SEXUAL VIOLENCE
Florida Council Against Sexual Violence 1-888-956-RAPE (1-888-956-7273)
Refuge House answers this 24 hour line, providing sexual violence counseling for adults, group and individuals and shelter for women and children in abusive situations.
R.A.I.N. Rape Abuse and Incest National Abuse Help Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673)
Instantaneously connects callers to the nearest rape crisis center, providing counseling and support.
SUICIDE
National Suicide Hotline (1-888-784-2433)
Trained volunteers and professional counselors are there to listen.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
American Academy of Pediatrics - 847-434-4000
Provides numerous materials for professionals working in the child abuse prevention field. www.aap.org
Teen Help Adolescent Resources - 1-800-637-0701
Assists parents, childcare professionals and others in locating appropriate resources for the treatment of adolescents struggling with making the best choices in their lives. 7:00 - 9:00 P.M. (mountain), Monday to Friday.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America - 215-567-7000 (1-800-412-BIGS)
Volunteers support families under stress and single parents by working with children in need of additional attention and friendship. www.bbbsa.org
