For Our Children & Families
Immediate danger or crisis?Call 911 for emergencies. Call or text 988 for crisis support. In Maine, 211 can help route food, housing, health, and local support. This site is not a hotline and does not collect private case details.Open crisis card

MAINE BASIC NEEDS + STABILITY

Stabilize basics before conflict escalates, when it is safe to do so.

Food, housing, transportation, childcare, school routines, health, and crisis support can be the first practical family-protection step before paperwork or legal escalation.

Maine Start HereBasic needsSchool stabilityOfficial/legal doors if needed

STABILIZE FIRST

Food, housing, transport, childcare, health, and crisis support can be the first family-protection step.

This page keeps basic needs visible before families are pushed toward legal escalation. It points to public doors and private planning tools only; it does not collect requests, donations, case details, or child data.

211 MaineMy Maine ConnectionSupport-first plannerOfficial/legal doors if needed

SUPPORT ROUTES

Choose the pressure that is loudest today.

Safety or crisis

Immediate danger goes to 911. Crisis support is available by call/text/chat through 988. Domestic violence or coercive-control concerns should use qualified advocacy support.

Open urgent doors

Food and household basics

Use 211 Maine and public benefit portals to find food, heating, household, health, and local support routing.

Open 211 Maine

Housing and transportation

Write down the next call, appointment, ride, document, or school transportation question. Basic stability often protects the child before any legal step.

Open planner

Childcare and school routines

Ask school or care staff short, practical questions about attendance, routines, transportation, and who should receive neutral updates.

School stability page

Mental health and family support

Counseling, parent coaching, school counselors, crisis support, and family services may help before conflict escalates. Mediation is not appropriate when unsafe or coercive.

Download support finder

Legal aid if needed

Use legal aid, court self-help, clerks, advocates, or counsel for deadlines, active orders, forms, safety protection, or procedural questions.

Official/legal doors

NEXT 24 HOURS

A short private checklist.

Write down only what you need for your own next step.

  • One safety contact or crisis route if needed.
  • One food, housing, transport, childcare, or health support number.
  • One school/provider update that helps the child’s routine.
  • One document, date, order, appointment, or question to keep privately.

Do not send private material to FOCaF.

  • No child names, allegations, medical records, sealed records, court filings, or confidential details.
  • No uploads, no forms, no backend, no tracking, no intake.
  • Use FOCaF tools for your own planning or for qualified professional conversations.

Public education boundary

Not legal, medical, or therapy advice

FOCaF materials can help families organize questions, dates, supports, and next steps. They do not replace qualified legal, clinical, school, crisis, or official help.

Privacy boundary

Keep private records private

Do not send FOCaF child names, private allegations, medical details, sealed records, court filings, or confidential materials. Use worksheets for your own records only.

Safety boundary

Safety and deadlines override this page

If there is immediate danger, abuse, coercive control, active orders, or a real deadline, use emergency, advocacy, official, legal, or qualified professional support promptly.