"Thank you for listening to me. I feel a weight has been lifted from my shoulders just being able to talk about what is going on with my son."


"I really appreciate your being here. I know that I call the line a lot, but I don’t know what I would do if there wasn’t someone for me to talk with when I feel this way. I just need a timeout, and an adult to listen to me. It’s hard always being the one who has to deal with everything. It’s really hard being a single parent."

The goal of the Parent Stressline is to reduce child abuse and neglect, as well as the stress in families that can lead to child abuse and neglect. The Parent Stressline is an 18-hour, 7-day a week listening service staffed by trained volunteers. It is available to parents and caretakers who are experiencing stress or who just need someone to listen. Parent Stressline volunteers strive to assist callers with finding solutions to their own problems, and do not offer advice or solve problems for the callers. Volunteers make referrals, as needed, to

Parental Stress Center programs or other appropriate community services that are equipped to meet the needs of the caller. Parent Stressline volunteers are recruited from the community and the University and must complete an initial 16-hour comprehensive training, as well as on-going seminars, to continue the education needed to serve callers on the line.

An essential service offered by the Parent Stressline is the promise of anonymity and confidentiality. Callers are asked no questions that will provide the Parental Stress Center with identifying information about the caller. With few places to go “just to talk” this practice offers a unique service to parents and caregivers in our community.