Resources for Young People
The National Runaway Safeline maintains a database of thousands of resources nationwide. When you contact us, we are able to connect you with a wide range of services and supports.
See below for a list of resources we frequently contact or rely on for information. If you are unable to locate the resource you need, please contact us or check out a more comprehensive list of helpful organizations.
Abuse
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline – The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse. Serving the U.S. and Canada, the hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with professional crisis counselors who—through interpreters—provide assistance in over 170 languages. The hotline offers crisis intervention, information and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service and support resources. All calls are confidential.
Dating Abuse
Love is respect – A project of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, love is respect offers 24/7 information, support and advocacy to young people between the ages of 13 and 26 who have questions or concerns about their romantic relationships. The organization also provides support to concerned friends and family members, teachers, counselors and service providers through the same free and confidential services via phone, text and live chat.
Housing
National Safe Place – Our nation’s young people deserve safety and shelter, and many youth feel they don’t have either. National Safe Place provides access to immediate help and supportive resources for youth in need. As a community initiative, the program designates schools, fire stations, libraries and other youth-friendly organizations as Safe Place locations, which display the yellow and black sign. Safe Place locations extend the doors of the local youth service agency or shelter to support teens in crisis situations, creating a safety net for youth.
Human Trafficking (Sex and Labor Trafficking)
Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS) – For the past 20 years, Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS) has served as the nation’s leading organization for empowering commercially sexually exploited and domestically trafficked girls and young women. Through cultural change, advocacy, training, and survivor leadership, GEMS is committed to shifting public perception and policy. As New York State’s first—and only—organization designed to provide trauma-informed, strengths-based services, GEMS has served thousands of young women and girls, ages 12–24.
National Human Trafficking Hotline – The National Human Trafficking Hotline connects victims and survivors of sex and labor trafficking with services and supports to get help and stay safe. The Hotline also receives tips about potential situations of sex and labor trafficking and facilitates reporting that information to the appropriate authorities in certain cases. The toll-free phone and SMS text lines and live online chat function are available 24/7. Help is available in English or Spanish, or in more than 200 additional languages through an on-call interpreter.
LGBTQ
It Gets Better – The It Gets Better Project’s mission is to uplift, empower and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youth around the globe. Growing up isn’t easy, especially when you are trying to affirm and assert your sexual orientation and/or gender identity. It can be a challenging and isolating process, but the good news is no one has to do it alone.
The Trevor Project – Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) young people under age 25.
Trans Lifeline – Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline and microgrants non-profit organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community. Its mission is to connect trans people to the community support and resources needed to survive and thrive.
Mental Health
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Started in 1979, today NAMI is an alliance of more than 600 local affiliates who work in communities to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need.
Pregnancy
Planned Parenthood – Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education and information to millions of people worldwide.
Suicide
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.