This year has been extremely difficult for people of all ages due to the many uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Many Californians are out of work and under serious financial stress. Children are partaking in virtual learning, which has come with unforeseen challenges and setbacks. Most recently, California has been dealing with devastating wildfires, and many parents are unsure on how to help their children cope with all that is going on.
One resource available to local families is Parents Anonymous, which recently launched a California parent and youth helpline.
“We launched the California Youth and Parent Helpline earlier this year in order to be the first responders helping people through the emotional crisis happening from COVID. As the year continues, many additional disconcerting events have taken place. We are proud to be the only statewide parent and youth helpline where you can talk one-on-one with a therapist for free,” says Parents Anonymous CEO and President Lisa Pion-Berlin.
The Parents Anonymous California Parent and Youth Helpline provides immediate emotional support from a trained and compassionate helpline counselor. It is open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily and families can call, text or chat in any language to 1-855-427-2736. In addition to the helpline, Parents Anonymous also offers ongoing online support groups for people of all ages.
The service has been endorsed by First Partner of California Jennifer Siebel Newsom. She and her husband, Governor Gavin Newsom, have four children under age 10.
“More than ever, children need our love and strength during these trying times,” says Newsom. “If you are feeling overwhelmed and worried about your family’s health and well-being, please remember that you are not alone. All of these feelings are completely normal, which is why Parents Anonymous and the California Parent and Youth Helpline are absolutely critical for the people of California who are rightfully struggling.”
Since 1969, Parents Anonymous Inc. has created evidence-based programs and initiatives that build on the strengths of diverse parents, children and youth. With the support of the U.S. Congress, the organization launched the national parent helpline in 1974. The California Parent and Youth Helpline and online Parents Anonymous Weekly Groups are the most recent additions to the Parents Anonymous Programs. Learn more at parentsanonymous.org.
