Family Resources

Delaware 211 connects individuals and families to health and human services in Delaware – for everyday needs and in crisis situations.

DELAWARE211.ORG

You can also connect with Delaware 211 by texting your ZIP code to 898‑211 or dialing 211 to place a call.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free and confidential support for anyone experiencing mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use concerns, or simply in need of someone to talk to. Compassionate counselors are available 24/7 to listen and help. You are not alone—support is just a call away.

988LIFELINE.ORG

You can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. The link above also provides access to the Lifeline's chat feature and support for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The Crisis Text Line offers free, confidential support 24/7. A trained volunteer Crisis Counselor will respond through a secure online platform to help you navigate the situation and find calm during a time of stress.

CRISISTEXTLINE.ORG

If you're experiencing a difficult moment and need someone to talk to, you can text HOME or HOLA to 741741 from anywhere in the United States. Support is also available via WhatsApp—click the link above to get connected.

Delaware law requires all individuals to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Reports can be made 24/7 by calling the Child Abuse and Neglect Report Line at 1-800-292-9582 or online at ISeeTheSigns.Delaware.gov. The website also provides information on signs of abuse, how reports are handled, and what protections are in place for those who report in good faith.

TAKECAREDELAWARE.ORG

We understand that there are many phone numbers listed on the page linked below, and it can be hard to know where to begin. If you're feeling overwhelmed, dialing 2-1-1 is a great first step. Delaware 211 is a free, confidential service that connects you with trained professionals who can help guide you to the support and resources you need.

GET HELP - RESOURCES

Find free or reduced-cost resources like food, housing, financial assistance, health care, and more.

findhelp.org

Elementary

Get to know how the different parts of your brain work and how they help you learn.

ELEMENTARY RESOURCES

Middle School

Learn more about how the different parts of your brain work and how they impact learning.

MIDDLE SCHOOL RESOURCES

High School

Learn more about how the different parts of your brain work and how they impact learning.

HIGH SCHOOL RESOURCES

Project THRIVE offers free mental health services to eligible Delaware students in pre-K through grade 12. Support is available to students in public, private, parochial, and homeschool settings across the state.

This initiative, developed by the Delaware Department of Education, provides trauma-informed care for students experiencing challenges such as abuse, bullying, racism, community violence, and other traumatic events. The goal is to support students’ emotional well-being and overall school success.

Through Project THRIVE, students can receive help to:

• Understand and process traumatic experiences

• Improve school attendance

• Manage emotions and behaviors

• Build healthy coping skills for home and school life

Project THRIVE

Dial 2-1-1 or text your zip code to 898-211. Let your specialist know you’re interested in learning more about Project THRIVE!

Does your child have a hard time self-regulating their emotions at home?

What is self-regulating?

Self-regulation involves taking a pause between a feeling and an action – taking the time to think things through, make a plan, and wait patiently.

Talk about what it looks like:

• Adult remains calm, neutral, flat facial expression.
• "It looks like you are feeling..."
• "If you need a break, you can go to the calm down area."
• "When you are ready, you can come return to the activity."
• When the child calms and returns to the activity, adult should give LOTS of praise.
• "Great job calming down, I see you are calm now."

How an kids self-regulate at home?

Try using a calm down area. Often students have calming areas at school, and this can be carried over at home.

Here are some things a calming area needs:

• A calm, comfy area in your home away from distractions.
• This area can be a child's tent, rod with a curtain, hang a hook from the ceiling and attach a canopy, or use a favorite blanket or mat.
• Have a calm down toolkit: stress balls, play dough, fidgets, breathing strategies, books about emotions, calming music, journal, stuffed animal, and even a coloring book.
• Hang visuals that help your child calm down: breathing posters, calming pictures, and family
  pictures.

Do's and Don'ts

DON'TS

• Do not use as a time out.
• Do not use as punishment.
• Do not force your child to stay.
• Do not give long complicated directions.
• Do not take the behavior personally.

DO

• Teach your child how to deal with big emotions.
• Give the child strategies to self-regulate.
• Talk about emotions.
• Practice deep breathing.
• Read stories and talk about how to calm down.
• Explain the calm down area and practice using it before it is needed.

FULL RESOURCE

virtual calming corner

One Mind PsyberGuide is a trusted, nonprofit resource that reviews and rates mental health apps and digital tools. Designed to help individuals, families, and educators make informed choices, the site offers expert evaluations focused on app credibility, user experience, and privacy practices. One Mind PsyberGuide supports users in finding safe and effective mental health resources beyond standard app store reviews.

One Mind PsyberGuide

The Food Bank of Delaware offers a variety of programs to support individuals and families facing food insecurity. Services include access to community food pantries, mobile pantry events, and scheduled appointments at Healthy Pantry Centers. Home delivery of non-perishable food is available for those with transportation or mobility challenges. Additional support includes senior nutrition services, weekend meal programs for children, nutrition education, and help applying for food assistance benefits.

Food Bank of Delaware

If there is not a pantry in your area, dial 2-1-1 to speak with a Delaware 211 representative for assistance. For more information, visit the link above.

Emergency Assistance funds for rent, utilities and emergency shelter are provided for eligible low-income persons in order to help to maintain self-sufficiency and prevent homelessness.

The purpose of Emergency Assistance is to avoid, eliminate or alleviate an emergency condition caused by an unforeseen circumstance resulting in a situation that calls for immediate action.

To be eligible:

• an individual or family must be able to maintain after the crisis is alleviated
• an individual or family must receive or be eligible for Cash Assistance (TANF, GA, SSI) or Certain Medicaid programs
• The emergency must have been the result of an unforeseen circumstance or a combination of circumstances that are beyond the recipients control.

Delaware Emergency Assistance Services

DSYCF WEBSITE

If a law enforcement officer encounters a child during a call, that child’s information is forwarded to the school before the school bell rings the next day. The school implements individual, class and whole school trauma-sensitive curricula so that traumatized children are “Handled With Care". If a child needs more intervention, on-site trauma-focused mental healthcare is available at the school.

Take Care Delaware

ParentGuidance.org is a free, online resource that supports parents and caregivers in navigating their child’s mental and emotional health. Created by licensed therapists, the site offers self-paced courses on topics like anxiety, grief, social media use, and more. Parents can also access confidential one-on-one coaching, participate in live webinars, and submit questions to mental health professionals. Resources are available in multiple languages to support all families.

Parent Guidance

Help Is Here Delaware is a statewide resource offering support for individuals and families facing mental health or substance use challenges. The website provides access to treatment locators, prevention tools, and recovery services. A free, confidential helpline is available 24/7 at 1‑833‑9‑HOPEDE (833‑946‑7333), connecting callers with trained counselors. The site also includes downloadable materials in English and Spanish to support schools, families, and communities.

Help is Here DE

Find Delaware-specific, state-vetted treatment providers near you ready to accept patients, whether you have insurance or not.

Treatment Connection

The Parent Information Center of Delaware (PIC) is the state-designated resource for families of children with disabilities, offering free support from birth through age 26. PIC services empower families through information, training, and one-on-one advocacy.

Key offerings include:

• Personalized parent consultations via phone, email, or virtual meetings

• Resource guides and fact sheets on special education, early intervention, disability rights, bullying, and conflict resolution

• Family- and youth training programs, including leadership development, webinars, and support groups

• Specialized programs like Surrogate Parent, Community Doula, Early Hearing Detection & Intervention, and Youth Leadership

PIC’s parent consultants are professional advocates trained to guide families and educators. Services are offered in multiple languages. For assistance, call (302) 999‑7394.

Parent Information Center of Delaware

The State of Delaware’s Comprehensive School Safety Program (CSSP)

CSSP is introducing a fully funded Safety and Wellness Suite to support Delaware schools with standardized, evidence-based tools to provide consistent assistance, support, and preventative measures for students.

What’s Included in the Suite:

SAFE DE (by STOPit Solutions)
A healing-centered, anonymous reporting app with:

• Crisis texting

• Resource information

• Mental health education and exercises

• 24/7/365 HELP Center monitored by trained specialists

• Out-of-Hours Incident Management

• Integrated Crisis Text Line for support anytime, anywhere in the U.S.

• Two-way communication with schools

• Secure incident escalation to admins/law enforcement when needed

Behavioral Threat & Suicide Risk Assessments

• Evidence-based models including CSTAG (Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guideline) and SRA (Columbia Suicide Risk Assessment)

• Supports early identification and assistance

• Ensures consistent threat evaluation and student support

Case Management System

• Centralized system to maintain relevant information across a student’s K-12 experience

• Aids in supporting students and deterring violence.

Implementation Timeline (Varies by District Size)

Month 0:

• SAFE DE Onboarding and Launch

• CSTAG/BTA & SRA Training begins

Month 1–3:

• Case Management Training and Onboarding

Month 3–6:

• Full Launch of BTA & SRA

Training is cohort dependent and runs concurrently with onboarding

How SAFE DE Works

For Students:

• Submit help requests anonymously via mobile app, Chromebook, or phone

• Access immediate support from a Crisis Counselor via the Crisis Text Line

• Two-way communication with school staff

• Connect to local resources and basic needs

For Admins:

1. Student submits request

2. HELP Center monitors and escalates

3. Admins act upon incidents via web-based management system

Contact Information

To get started or learn more, contact:
Nicole Shuler-Geer at nicole.shuler@delaware.gov

Website: stopitsolutions.com
Phone: 855-999-0932

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