Texas Youth Helpline is a 24-hour statewide helpline for troubled youth and their families.  Program staff members and volunteers answer the helpline and provide callers with crisis intervention and support services.  Information and referrals are available to callers in need of shelter, counseling services, additional resources, or simply an empathetic ear. 
When a youth or parent calls the helpline, there is a good chance they are in a crisis or high-stress situation.  TYH staff and volunteers evaluate the crisis, identify the underlying problem, mobilize resources, and assist the caller in developing a sensible plan of action. We do not provide counseling, as we are not licensed or trained to be professional counselors. Instead, we are advocates for the best interest of the caller who can connect the caller with counseling resources when needed

Information and referral

Helpline staff and volunteers provide callers with thousands of referrals each year.  Our database contains more than 2,500 local, statewide, and national referrals to youth-related organizations and many resources for parents, relatives, guardians, and caregivers of youth 17 and under. We are more than a referral line- this is only one aspect of working at the Helpline.

Conference Calls

Every runaway who calls the helpline is encouraged to contact a parent, a family member, a trusted adult, or a community organization.  If the youth is unwilling or unable to make a call, we can offer to initiate a conference call.

FREQUENT TOPICS

• Leaving Home
• Family Conflict
• Mental Health
• Relationships