The California Parent & Youth Helpline is a vital, life-saving service that offers free, trauma-informed mental health support to struggling families across the state.
Launched in 2020, it is the only statewide, free Helpline where trained master's-level counselors answer calls, texts, and live chats 24/7 at 855-427-2736 and via caparentyouthhelpline.org. The Helpline provides evidence-based emotional support to hundreds of thousands of parents, children, and youth facing mental health challenges, abuse, isolation, and crisis. Services are confidential, available in 240 languages, and designed to reach anyone who needs help — whenever they need it.
But now, due to proposed budget cuts in California's 2025–26 fiscal plan, this essential service, run by the nonprofit Parents Anonymous® Inc., is at risk of shutting down entirely.
Without state funding, the Helpline will be forced to close its doors, leaving 15 million parents, caregivers, children, and youth without a place to turn for emotional support, crisis intervention, and mental health resources.
This Helpline is unlike any other in the country. Recent peer-reviewed research (Harris, Ilhan, & Lucas, 2025) shows that 85% of callers report feeling more positive and hopeful after just one conversation. Most mental health interventions take months to show impact — to achieve that kind of change in 30 minutes is extraordinary.
On June 13, 2025, the state legislature approved a budget that included $3 million for one year of Helpline funding from the Behavioral Health Services Fund — a fund created for this exact purpose, with a balance in the billions. Importantly, this funding does not affect the state deficit. However, just days later, Governor Newsom removed the funding entirely from the final budget, despite the Administration's long-standing support for the Helpline.
Now we need your voice.
Sign this petition, make calls, and send emails to key legislators and the Governor. Urge them to introduce and pass a budget trailer bill to restore this funding before it's too late.
The California Parent & Youth Helpline saves lives every single day. It's a trusted support line for anyone — no concern is too big or too small. We believe that Asking for Help is a Sign of Strength®, and this Helpline ensures that help is always within reach.
