
Addressing basic needs of families
Due to COVID-19, things can feel stressful and uncertain for parents. This quick-reference document supports healthcare providers, social workers, and other professionals as they address the needs of caregivers and families.

Download and print our H.E.L.P. sheet
Parenting is hard. Ask for H.E.L.P.
The acronym H.E.L.P. is a simple outline for healthcare providers, social workers, and other professionals to quickly assess the basic needs of caregivers and their families.
H. Health.
Does your family have access to food/formula? Healthcare? Mental health? Dental care? Medication?
E. Environment.
Do you and your child feel safe and secure at home?
L. Learning.
How is your child doing with online learning?
P. Parenting.
How are you coping with the stress of parenting?
H.E.L.P.ful services, hotlines, and evidence-informed resources
To address the identified needs of caregivers and their families, this information is provided as a quick reference for healthcare providers, social workers, and other professionals.
Local Health and Human Services
- 211 Texas
Dial 2-1-1 or 877-541-7905, 211texas.org
- Aunt Bertha
auntbertha.com
- Tarrant Cares
tarrantcares.org
- One Safe Place
817-916-4323
- Help me Grow Family Resource
844-NTX-KIDS
- Tarrant County Deptof Human Services
800-942-3678
- WIC Health & Nutrition
800-942-3678
Evidence-Informed Resources
- Centers for Disease Control (COVID-19 related)
- Texas Department of State Health Services
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- Cook Children’s
- United Way of Dallas
24/7 Crisis & Support Hotlines
- ChildhelpNational Child Abuse Hotline for caregiver support
Call/Text: 800-422-4453 or 800-4-A-CHILD, childhelp.org
- Texas DFPS Texas Abuse Hotlineto report child abuse
800-252-5400, txabusehotline.org
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
800-273-8255 (TALK), suicidepreventionlifeline.org
- Texas Youth Helpline
800-989-6884, Text: 512-872-5777
- iCARECrisis Line for Mental Health & Substance Use
800-866-2465, Text: 817-335-3022
- Texas COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line
833-986-1919, mhmrtc.org
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
800-799-7233 (SAFE), thehotline.org
Reach out for help
Sometimes the pressure can be too much. Reaching out for help is important for you and your family. The following are free help lines for different needs.
- For confidential support when you need help with the stresses of parenting, call Child Help:
- Call or text 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or live chat at childhelp.org
- For help with teen specific concerns:
- Call Texas Youth Helpline: 800-989-6884 or text 512-872-5777
- For help with parenting tips, local resources and to learn about family fun:
- For mental health support and crisis care, call iCARE:
- Call or text iCARE at 817-335-3022
- For access to services through a social service hotline:
For all other questions/updates on COVID-19, visit cdc.gov.
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, please contact the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) toll free at 1-800-252-5400, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You may also file a report using the secure TDFPS website. Reports made through this website take up to 24 hours to process. The Texas Abuse Hotline is 1-800-252-5400.
For more resources: