Children and Family Services
As popular as the idea of "helping the children" can be, it is often harder to find services curing the disease as opposed to just treating the symptoms. Creating a stable and nurturing environment is different for every situation, so please follow the guide below for ideas on where to go and what to do next. Links to available county and local services can be found after.
Children's Services
Children being placed in an unsafe situation always require direct intervention by local authorities, and it is important to react appropriately. If you feel a child is in danger, contact the police as soon as possible. Otherwise, it is often difficult to gauge the reaction to a situation that is not "optimal" for the child's development, but does not require immediate intervention or escalation. Be cautious in how these issues are approached. As humans, we often project our own perceptions and opinions into the lives as others. This can cause serious issues in stability for families struggling to maintain quality of life. It is ALMOST ALWAYS the best possible outcome for families to stay together. Please use resources in this category respectfully and with compassion.
Family Services
Cultivation of healthy family habits can be very complicated in the current economy and in the modern digital age. Many different family dynamics exist where one or both parents are working full-time jobs, children are having to mature fast because of their home life/social circle, people outside of the core family (grandparents, family members, close family friends, etc.) are utilized to ease burdens, and daycare/school responsibilities. These all seem common, but some often feel like they have no margin for error. Anything added to this equation can cause catastrophe. Though it may feel as if life is balancing along the edge of a blade, "to err is human." Parenting is an imperfect process, requiring constant trial, error, and correction. Resources in this category are designed to educate and assist families through this process.
Teens Services
Being a teenage is impossible. No one understands you, and it feels like they don't even want to try. You're growing too fast, and the world is coming at you like a freight train.
"What are you doing after High School? College? Job? Where will you live? What are taxes? How do you save money? What will you do about healthcare? Is it true that your back just starts hurting for no reason when you grow up?"
Growing up and learning life as you go is like drinking from a firehose, you barely get a drop because the water is going so fast. Seeking counseling, hobbies, or skills can slow the flow down, allowig you to drink your fill. Use these resources to learn to live, not just be alive.