Support Resources and Services

• 2-1-1 Helpline by the United Way

Help starts here.

2-1-1 is an easy to remember number that helps people cut through what can be a confusing and overwhelming maze of information and resources. Trained Resource Navigators help people assess their needs and link them directly to resources and information that could change their circumstances for the better. Whether a person is seeking essential services or looking for volunteer opportunities in his or her community, 211 is there 24 hours a day, seven days a week via phone, text, and chat.

Need help? Contact 2-1-1, text your zipcode to 898-211, or click here to search our database of services.

 https://uwswpa.org/call-2-1-1/

 

• Al-Anon/Alateen

 Al-Anon is a 12-step support fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength, and hope in order to solve their common problems.  There is a shared belief that alcoholism is a family illness and that changed attitudes can aid recovery.  Alateen is a fellowship of young Al-Anon members, usually teenagers, whose lives have been affected by someone else's drinking.  Al-Anon-and Alateen are not allied with any sect, denomination, political entity, organization, or institution.  They can be reached at 800-628-8920.

http://www.pa-al-anon.org

 

 

• Childnet International: Free Internet Safety Resources for Parents

To help parents ensure their children stay safe online whilst getting to explore and discover new things, Childnet International pulled together a list of our resources you can access for free which provide information and advice for parents about internet safety.

 

See also the homepage for Childnet International at https://www.childnet.com/

 https://www.childnet.com/blog/free-internet-safety-resources-for-parents

 

• Common Sense Media

Common Sense is the leading independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids thrive in a world of media and technology. We empower parents, teachers, and policymakers by providing unbiased information, trusted advice, and innovative tools to help them harness the power of media and technology as a positive force in all kids’ lives.

 

Common Sense Media helps families make smart media choices. We offer the largest, most trusted library of independent age-based and educational ratings and reviews for movies, games, apps, TV shows, websites, books, and music.  Our Parent Concerns and Parent Blog help families understand and navigate the problems and possibilities of raising children in the digital age.

 

Common Sense believes in sanity, not censorship.  They strive to achieve a healthy approach to media and technology.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/

 

• ConnectSafely

ConnectSafely.org is a Silicon Valley, California-based nonprofit organization dedicated to educating users of connected technology about safety, privacy and security. Here you’ll find research-based safety tips, parents’ guidebooks, advice, news and commentary on all aspects of tech use and policy.

Whether it’s social media, mobile technology or the “Internet of Things,” connected technologies bring us enormous advantages, along with some challenges. ConnectSafely’s job is to help users get the most from their technology while managing the risks and help decision makers craft sensible policies that encourage both innovation and responsible use. ConnectSafely has been a leading voice for rational, research-informed policies — not “moral panics” — when it comes to dealing with challenges brought about by emerging technologies. 

https://www.connectsafely.org/

 

• Family Online Safety Institute

This website promotes itself as connected families working to make the online world safer for kids and their families through enlightened public policy, industry best practice and good digital parenting.

Includes tips, tools and rules to confidently navigate the online world with your kids.

https://www.fosi.org/

• Gateway Rehabilitation Center

 Gateway Rehabilitation Center is a fully licensed, private, not-for-profit organization that provides comprehensive alcohol and other drug addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery services for adult men and women, educators, employers, families, healthcare professionals, parents, students, and young adults.  Operating since 1972, Gateway has 20 locations throughout western Pennsylvania and Ohio.  They can be reached at 800-472-1177.

http://www.gatewayrehab.org

 

• Greenbriar Treatment Center

Greenbriar provides comprehensive, innovative and compassionate residential programs for individuals suffering with addiction. Our unique drug and alcohol rehabilitation program uses a multi-disciplinary approach to drug and alcohol rehabilitation, with a team of addiction professionals including licensed and certified counselors, board certified psychiatrists, licensed psychologists, medical doctors and a broad range of nurses, nursing assistants, and psychiatric nurses who specialize in addiction, alcoholism and dual diagnosis, and other highly trained and credentialed professionals who collaborate to guide each resident through a thorough diagnosis, individualized addiction treatment and aftercare.

http://www.greenbriar.net/

 

• Highmark Caring Place

Highmark Caring Place is a free community service dedicated to grieving children and families.  Supporting them in their journey toward hope after a loved one dies, it is a place where grieving children and families receive support and encouragement from others their age and from trained adult volunteers.  They can be reached at 888-734-4073.

http://www.highmarkcaringplace.com

 

• Internet Safety 101

Internet Safety 101, a collaborative effort between Enough is Enough and the U.S. Department of Justice, is a multi-media Internet safety resource designed to educate, equip and empower parents, educators and other adults with the knowledge and resources needed to protect children from Internet dangers including pornography, predators, cyberbullies and threats related to online gaming, social networking and mobile devices.

 

Enough Is Enough^® (EIE)

A non-partisan, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, emerged in 1994 as the national leader on the front lines of making the Internet safer for children and families. Since then, EIE has pioneered and led the effort to confront online pornography, child pornography, child stalking and sexual predation with innovative initiatives and effective communications. 

Among the many useful resources located within this site are various guides aimed at helping parents.

 https://internetsafety101.org/

• Know When/Know How

Talk with Your Kids About Alcohol.  The best way to prevent underage drinking is to start talking with your child about it, early and often.

Brought to you by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board

https://knowwhenknowhow.org/

 

• NarAnon

The Nar-Anon Family Groups are a worldwide fellowship for those affected by someone else’s addiction. As a Twelve-Step Program, the groups offer help by sharing experiences, strength, and hope. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend.

Nar-Anon members are relatives and friends who are concerned about the addiction or drug problem of another. Nar-Anon's program of recovery is adapted from Narcotics Anonymous and uses Nar-Anon's Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts of Service.

http://www.nar-anon.org/naranon/

• National Eating Disorders Association

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is the leading non-profit organization in the United States advocating on behalf of and supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. Reaching millions every year, we campaign for prevention, improved access to quality treatment, and increased research funding to better understand and treat eating disorders. We work with partners and volunteers to develop programs and tools to help everyone who seeks assistance.

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Since its inception, the Lifeline has engaged in a variety of initiatives to improve crisis services and advance suicide prevention.

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

• Operation Prevention: Parent Toolkit

As mentioned at the Community Connections Seminar at NAI on April 5, 2017, this link contains the Parent Toolkit presented by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and Discovery Education to educate middle and high school students about the true impacts of prescription opioid misuse and heroin use.

 https://www.operationprevention.com/sites/operationprevention.com/files/PDFs/Operation_Prevention_ParentToolkit_Final.pdf

• Parents Who Host, Lose The Most

 Parents Who Host Lose The Most is a public awareness program developed by the Drug Free Action Alliance educating communities and parents about the health and safety risks of serving alcohol at teen parties.  The program takes place at state and local levels, concentrating on celebratory times for youth, such as homecoming, holidays, prom, graduation and other times when underage drinking parties are prevalent.  This program encourages parents and the ENTIRE community to send a unified message that teen alcohol consumption is unhealthy, unsafe and unacceptable.

 

Drug Free Action Alliance is a statewide, 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization founded in 1987.  It provides up-to-date information and develops initiatives that serve the immediate needs of those working to prevent substance abuse throughout the State of Ohio and beyond.

https://www.drugfreeactionalliance.org/parents-who-host

• Pennsylvania Bullying Prevention Toolkit

A website that provides centralized, authoritative, easy-to-use information, tools and best practices to help families, schools and communities recognize, understand and prevent bullying, and support children affected by it.

The toolkit provides valuable information for educators and others working with youth, including health care professionals, coaches and afterschool staff. It is especially valuable to schools that do not have bullying prevention programs in place and to agencies typically called upon in crisis situations. Related tip-sheets and guides are free and downloadable.

https://bptoolkit.safeschools.info/

 

• Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR)

 The Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) is a private non-profit organization founded in 1972 in response to a series of rapes and growing public concern.  PAAR's mission is to respond to survivors of sexual violence with crisis intervention and counseling, educate the community to prevent sexual violence, and advocate for systems to respond to and prevent sexual violence.  PAAR's hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year - 866-363-7273.

http://www.paar.net

• Pyramid Healthcare

 Pyramid Healthcare provides treatment and care to people who are dealing with alcohol and/or drug addiction, mental health disorders, and adolescent behavioral problems in various locations throughout Pennsylvania.  Licensed by all of the relevant state and federal entities, its residential and outpatient programs help the individual learn and practice recovery and coping skills.  They can be reached at 888-694-9996.

http://www.pyramidhealthcarepa.com

 

• Savvy Cyber Kids

Savvy Cyber Kids (SCK), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to enable youth, families and school communities to be empowered by technology, recognizes that children are “Digital Naives” who, without intervention, completely lack understanding of the implications of their digital actions.

 

Founded in 2007 by Internet security expert, noted speaker and author Ben Halpert, Savvy Cyber Kids provides resources for parents and teachers to educate children as they grow up in a world surrounded by technology by teaching numerous Cyber Safety & Ethics concepts such as personal Internet safety, bully response, technology balance, digital reputation and privacy.

 

As children grow older they interact with technology in a variety of ways, often without supervision. The reality is that when children can access the internet independently, it’s like taking the front door off the house and inviting strangers in—potentially toxic ones—to interact with them. Despite what the media will say, the danger is not with a specific app or game—it’s the decisions and the actions children are taking in these apps and games that may be dangerous.

 

Savvy Cyber Kids teaches today’s children—from preschool to high school—how to remain safe and be empowered to make appropriate decisions in the online world, by engaging the commitment of parents, teachers and the community to raise awareness and impart a sense of Cyber Safety & Ethics into the minds of children.

 https://savvycyberkids.org/

 

• Southwood Psychiatric Hospital