Find Help With a Personal Situation

All families face challenges. At times, individuals and families may need additional resources, tools, or information to deal with difficult personal situations. The following questions address common issues that individuals and families face, including the need for financial, emotional, or legal support.

If you are experiencing a suicidal crisis or emotional distress, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988 to connect to counselors at over 200 local crisis centers who provide free and confidential support and crisis counseling. Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The following resources are for informational purposes only, and their appearance on this page does not constitute an endorsement by Child Welfare Information Gateway or the Children's Bureau. Information Gateway is not equipped to offer crisis counseling or intervene in or advise on personal situations.  

You may find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about child welfare issues on the Children’s Bureau’s FAQ webpage. Information on available benefits may be accessed on the Benefits.gov website. 


To report online child sexual exploitation, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at 1.800.THE.LOST (1.800.843.5678).

The CyberTipline is the Nation’s centralized reporting system for reporting suspected online enticement of children for sexual acts, extrafamilial child sexual molestation, child pornography, child sex trafficking, and more. To report other types of child maltreatment, see Information Gateway's How to Report Child Abuse or Neglect webpage.

To report suspected or potential human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1.888.373.7888. Support is available in more than 200 languages.  

Call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at 1.800.569.4287 or visit its Housing Counseling Services webpage to connect with key contacts in your State or area and/or find a HUD-participating agency. 

Call the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) Sexual Assault Hotline (1.800.656.HOPE) or chat online for confidential crisis support. 

Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1.833.TLC.MAMA (1.833.852.6262) for free, confidential, 24/7 service to connect with professional counselors (in English and Spanish) before, during, and after pregnancy. 

Read our publication "From Complaint to Resolution: Understanding the Child Welfare Grievance Process" for general information about the grievance process and how to file a complaint. 

The American Bar Association provides legal information, including State-specific services, legal hotlines, court resources, and more:  

The Child Find of America – Parent Help program (1.800.716.3468) offers free, confidential, telephone-based services to parents in conflict. 

For questions about child support, contact your local Child Support Agency.

You may access contact information for State and Tribal child support agencies on the Office of Child Support Services website. 

Text HOME to 741741 to speak with a crisis counselor at the Crisis Text Line. 

Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233). If you are unable to speak freely, text LOVEIS to 1.866.331.9474. 

211.org offers information in 180 languages about local resources. Calls are confidential, and service professionals are available 24/7. 

Call the National Parent Helpline at 1.855.4.A.PARENT (1.855.427.2736) to speak with a trained National Parent Helpline advocate who can listen to you, offer emotional support, and build on your parenting strengths.

Find helpful resources and supports near you by visiting the 1-800-CHILDREN website or by calling 1.800.332.6378. Information is available in more than 40 languages.   

Visit the National Respite Locator Service page on the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center website. 

Call the National Runaway Safeline at 1.800.786.2929 (live chat, emails, forum) or text 66008 for free, confidential services and support. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. 

Explore SingleMothersGrants.org for an overview of financial assistance programs by State that help single mothers. 

FindTreatment.gov, coordinated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, collects information on thousands of State-licensed providers who specialize in treating substance use disorders, addiction, and mental illness.

Warmlines are peer-run, telephone-based, confidential listening lines.  Warmline.org offers a directory of State-specific warm lines and mental health support. The National Alliance on Mental Illness also offers a warmline directory.

Contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free and confidential support for people in distress and prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.