First Responders: Get Help Now
For police, teachers, nurses, parole agents and caseworkers. Help Foster Youth is a free directory — we point you to verified organizations; we do not provide services ourselves.
You never need to ask the young person whether they were in foster care. This site is built for foster youth, but most emergency help here — shelters, hotlines, food, crisis lines — is open to any young person who is struggling or on the verge of homelessness.
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or 988.
I Am a…
Law Enforcement: What To Do
- In immediate danger, follow your department's emergency procedures.
- Suspect abuse or neglect? Report it to your state's child abuse hotline — find yours under State Crisis Hotlines below.
- You never need to ask about foster care — most shelters, hotlines and food help are open to any young person.
- For a place to stay tonight, use Shelters & Hotlines or the ZIP search.
- Share the site address: free and anonymous, no sign-up — they can open it on any device.
Search Together
Enter the young person's ZIP code to see verified help near them, then share the site address so they can open it on their own device.
Scan for Crisis Help
You do not need to hand the young person your phone. Let them point their own camera at this code — it opens free crisis help at helpfosteryouth.org/crisis. Every phone camera reads it, no app needed, and the site never asks for a name or sign-up.
Print this page and keep a copy in your car, classroom or clinic so the next young person can scan it themselves.
Say This to the Youth
"This site is free and anonymous. You don't have to sign up or give your name. You can look for help near you any time."