October 23, 2025 What Are Two Examples of Helplines Operated by Child Protection Agencies?
“Helplines, also are known as warmlines, support lines, or care lines, are designed to connect families to community and government services that can prevent safety issues from escalating to the level of child welfare system involvement. Unlike general information or resource lines, helplines are proactive and offer intensive support, making referrals and following up with families to ensure they successfully connect to needed services. Helplines aim to offer families a safe, stigma-free way to seek support and avoid the trauma of child welfare system involvement.
Helplines operated by child protection agencies can benefit from highly trained staff and streamlined access to agency resources. Families may not feel safe asking for help from a child protection agency, however, so building trust is paramount.
This brief details helplines operated by child protection agencies in Washington, D.C., and New York City.1 A companion to this brief, How Do Helplines Support Children and Families?, offers an overview on the topic based on the experiences of nearly a dozen different helplines, including some that operate independently of a child protection agency.”