Emergency / immediate safety
Use this when someone may be in immediate danger.
Call 911 for emergencies. Do not wait to finish a checklist when a person needs immediate police, fire, medical, or protective response.
Call 911OFFICIAL DOORS BY NEED
Use official and qualified support when a worksheet is not enough.
This page is organized by need so families can find emergency, safety, basic-needs, school, crisis, disability, legal-aid, and court-form doors without making court the default first step.
SUPPORT-FIRST BOUNDARY
Court and legal links stay available, but they are not the default for every family stressor.
Use official/legal doors promptly for immediate danger, abuse or coercive-control concerns, active orders, deadlines, eligibility questions, and forms. For non-urgent stress, start with safety, basic needs, school/provider coordination, routines, calm communication, and private record organization.
ROUTING BY NEED
Choose the official door that matches the problem.
FOCaF does not receive private family records and cannot respond to emergencies. Use the appropriate public, professional, or official channel for confidential help.
Mental health crisis
Use this for crisis support or urgent emotional safety.
Call or text 988 for crisis support. The printable Maine crisis card keeps a compact list available for a fridge, binder, backpack, or helper folder.
988 LifelineCrisis cardDomestic violence / coercive control
Use this when safety planning or abuse support may be needed.
Use trained advocacy and safety-planning resources rather than a public website. Do not use mediation or shared planning tools when doing so could increase danger or control.
Maine DV helpLegal aid / self-help
Use this when forms, deadlines, orders, rights, or eligibility require legal information.
FOCaF does not provide legal advice. Legal-aid and self-help organizations can help people understand options and eligibility.
Pine Tree Legal AssistanceVolunteer Lawyers ProjectCourt forms / family matters
Use this for official Maine Judicial Branch materials.
Court forms and family-matter instructions belong on official court pages. Use them when an order, filing, deadline, hearing, clerk question, or qualified legal guidance makes that necessary.
Family mattersCourt formsHousing / food / basic needs
Use this when stability needs come first.
Food, housing, transportation, utilities, childcare, and health coverage pressures can make family conflict worse. Route basic needs before escalating conflict when safe.
211 MaineMy Maine ConnectionSchool / child support systems
Use this when school, childcare, child support, attendance, or provider coordination needs an official path.
Keep updates factual and child-centered. Use schools, providers, and state programs for their proper roles; avoid asking children to carry adult messages.
FOCaF school/provider supportMaine child support servicesDisability / accessibility
Use this when a disability, accommodation, or accessibility question affects family stability.
Accommodation and disability-rights questions should go to qualified public or advocacy resources. Keep private health details out of public review.
Disability Rights MaineWHAT NOT TO SEND TO FOCAF
Do not send private case facts, child names, allegations, medical records, sealed records, or confidential court documents.
FOCaF is static public education. Use official, professional, legal, medical, school, crisis, advocacy, or court channels for confidential matters.
Read the no-private-case-details guardrailLegal boundary
Public education, not legal advice
FOCaF materials can help families organize questions, dates, documents, and next steps. They do not create an attorney-client relationship and do not replace advice from a qualified professional.
Safety boundary
Safety overrides site content
If someone is in immediate danger, use emergency and crisis resources first. Do not use this site to submit private allegations, child names, sealed records, medical files, or confidential court materials.
Child-first boundary
Children should not carry adult conflict
Tools are designed to reduce adult confusion and pressure, not to make children document adult disputes, choose sides, or act as messengers.