Community resources and assistance

Click here or dial 2-1-1

The 2-1-1 Arizona Information and Referral Service operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week and every day of the year. Live-operator service is available at all times in English and Spanish and assistance is available in other languages via real-time interpreter services.2-1-1 Arizona operators will help individuals and families find resources that are available to them locally, throughout the state, and provide connections to critical services, including:

• Supplemental Food and Nutrition Programs
• Shelter and Housing Options
• Utilities Assistance
• Emergency Information and Disaster Relief
• Employment and Education Opportunities
• Services for Veterans
• Healthcare, vaccination and health epidemic information
• Addiction Prevention and Rehabilitation Programs
• Re-entry help for ex-offenders
• Support groups for individuals with mental illnesses or special needs
• A safe, confidential path out of physical and/or emotional domestic violence 

24/7 crisis hotlines

Teen Lifeline

602-248-8336

What is Teen Lifeline? (video)

 

National Suicide Prevention Hotline

1-800-273-8255

Text 'TALK' to 741741

www.afsp.org/find-support

Crisis Response Network

602-222-9444

www.crisisnetwork.org

Suicide prevention

No matter what problems a child is facing, resources are available to help him/her find a reason to keep living. By calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) children at risk for suicide will be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area, anytime 24/7. They can also text 741-741 and type HELP. Someone will respond who is trained to help.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention provides information, support, warning signs, risk factors, statistics and treatment regarding suicide. 

Helping children cope with death

How to discuss death with your child:

1. Be aware of your own feelings and beliefs about death so you can talk with your child as naturally as possible when the opportunities arise. If you believe in heaven and want to tell your child about it, it is important to emphasize that he or she won't see the person again on earth.
2. Do not confront them with information that they may not understand or want to know, but instead be sensitive to their desire to communicate when they are ready. If they can't express their feelings in words, it may be helpful to have them draw a picture about their feelings or make something out of playdough. As they draw or make things, use empathy to give their feelings a name: "You're sad. You miss __________. Tell me about it."
3. Offer them honest explanations when they are obviously upset. The best approach is to use simple and brief explanations in language they can understand. Only offer answers to questions that are asked.
4. Avoid confusing explanations and mixed messages that increase anxiety in children, such as:
   • "Went to sleep"-this may make them fearful of going to bed or taking naps
   • "Went away"-brief separations with other loved ones may begin to worry them
   • "Sickness caused the death"-especially young children can't distinguish between temporary and fatal illnesses
   • "Only old people die"-this can lead to distrust when they realize that young people can die too
5. Checking to see if a child has understood what has been said is critical. Youngsters sometimes confuse what they hear. Also, children learn through repetition and may need to hear the same question answered over and over again.
6. Grief in children is much different than grief in adults. Adults may "live in a heavy fog" for a while, but children tend to bounce in and out of grief, crying one moment and laughing the next. This can be confusing to children. Listen to and accept their feelings.
7. Do not put off their questions by telling them they are too young.
8. If you do not know the answer to their questions, answers such as "I honestly don't know the answer to that one" can be more comforting and help them feel better for not knowing everything also.
9. Provide security. The death of a classmate may for the first time cause your child to think of his or her own mortality or the mortality of his or her parent. You may reassure your child that you will take care of them and probably won't die until they are all grown up. Since none of us know when we will die, don't make any promises to your child that you will always be there for him or her.
10. Between the ages of 5 and 9, most children developmentally are beginning to realize that death is final and that all living things die. They also tend to personify death (for example, they may associate death with a skeleton), and some children have nightmares about death.
11. Know that children develop at different rates in their perception of death and have different reactions. For example, a child may appear unconcerned about the death of a grandparent but may react strongly to the death of a pet. No matter how children cope with death, they need sympathetic and nonjudgmental responses from adults.
12. Don't make them go to funerals or visitations unless they express a desire to do so. It may also be a good idea to let them know in advance what will take place at the ceremony ahead of time so there are no surprises and they know what to expect.

More tips to help your child cope with death.
Common questions about how to help a child with the grieving process.
The Small Creature - An animated story to help bereaved children. (video)

Food support

United Food Bank

Arizona Food Bank Network Find a food bank near you.

Internet support

The Cox Connect2Compete program provides affordable internet to qualified households for as low as $9.95 per month. To qualify for the Cox Connect2Compete affordable internet program, your household must have at least one K-12 student and participate in a government assistance program.