Knowledge Center
Verified resources for every member of your community.
Federal agencies, peer-reviewed research, crisis lines, and evidence-based programs — curated and organized for students, parents, educators, and public health professionals.
Crisis Lines & Emergency Hotlines
Immediate 24/7 support — free and confidential
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Free and confidential emotional support for people in suicidal crisis or mental health distress. 24/7, in English and Spanish. Also available via online chat at 988lifeline.org
to 741741
Crisis Text Line
Text-based crisis support for any type of crisis. Live, trained crisis counselors available 24/7. Visit crisistextline.org
656-HOPE
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline
Routes callers to local RAINN-affiliated sexual assault service providers. Confidential. Also at rainn.org via online chat.
662-HELP
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral for mental health and substance use disorders. English & Spanish. Visit samhsa.gov
799-SAFE
National Domestic Violence Hotline
24/7 support for those experiencing domestic violence. Advocates available to talk confidentially. thehotline.org
950-NAMI
NAMI HelpLine
National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline offering support, information, and referrals. M–F 10 AM–10 PM ET. nami.org
488-7386
The Trevor Project TrevorLifeline
Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ young people under 25. TrevorText: text START to 678-678. thetrevorproject.org
422-4453
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
Crisis intervention, information, and referrals for child abuse. Professional crisis counselors. childhelp.org
School Safety & Violence Prevention
Federal agencies, programs, and evidence-based frameworks
SchoolSafety.gov
The official federal interagency hub with actionable recommendations for creating safe, supportive learning environments. Covers threat assessment, mental health, bullying, emergency planning, and more.
CDC Youth Violence Prevention
Research-based data, risk factors, and prevention strategies from the Centers for Disease Control. Includes YRBS (Youth Risk Behavior Survey) data and community-level prevention approaches.
School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP)
Administered by the COPS Office under the STOP School Violence Act of 2018. Provides grants and evidence-based frameworks for security technology, threat assessment, and prevention programs.
Office of Safe & Supportive Schools (OSSS)
Provides resources, technical assistance, grants, and direct support for school safety, student wellness, and creating supportive learning climates. Administers key federal safety programs.
School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS)
Biennial national survey tracking crime, violence, discipline, and safety in U.S. public schools. The most comprehensive federal data source for school safety professionals and researchers.
National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE)
ED-funded technical assistance center with resources on school climate, social-emotional learning, drug prevention, trauma, and violence. Extensive practitioner tools and data collection frameworks.
Bullying & Cyberbullying Prevention
Evidence-based programs and reporting resources
StopBullying.gov
The official federal government website on bullying prevention. Includes information on what bullying is, warning signs, how to respond, cyberbullying, state laws, and resources for every audience.
CDC Bullying Resources
Epidemiological data on bullying prevalence, risk factors, consequences, and prevention strategies. Includes resources for becoming an "upstander" and links to evidence-based school interventions.
PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center
The nation's leading bullying prevention nonprofit (since 2006), hosting National Bullying Prevention Month (October) and Unity Day. Free toolkits, classroom resources, and age-appropriate content for K–12.
PACER Kids Against Bullying
Interactive, age-appropriate website designed specifically for elementary school children. Animated content, games, and activities teach younger students about bullying prevention and safe responses.
PACER Teens Against Bullying
Middle and high school-focused platform with relevant, edgy content on bullying prevention. Empowers teens to take action, understand their rights, and access grade-appropriate guides and resources.
Cyberbullying Research Center
Peer-reviewed research on online harassment and cyberbullying by criminology researchers. Offers data, tip sheets, school policies, and up-to-date information on trends in digital aggression among youth.
Mental Health & Suicide Prevention
Support, treatment referrals, and school-based mental health frameworks
SAMHSA — Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
Primary federal agency for behavioral health. Offers treatment locators, evidence-based practice toolkits, grant programs, data, and the 988 Lifeline. Central hub for all federally-backed mental health resources.
SAMHSA Behavioral Health Resources for Youth
Dedicated SAMHSA page for children and youth mental health, including school-based mental health programs, Project AWARE grants, early intervention, and resources for families and schools.
NAMI — National Alliance on Mental Illness
America's largest grassroots mental health organization. Offers free education programs (NAMI Basics, NAMI Family Support Groups), a HelpLine (800-950-6264), local chapter finder, and youth-specific resources.
MentalHealth.gov & NIMH Youth Resources
National Institute of Mental Health resources on anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, and suicide in youth. Includes science-based fact sheets, statistics, and clinical guidance for professionals.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)
SAMHSA-funded center providing training, resources, and consultation to prevent suicide. Includes the Zero Suicide framework, school-based prevention toolkits, and research summaries on safe messaging guidelines.
AFSP — American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Leading nonprofit funder of suicide prevention research. Offers Talk Saves Lives education programs, local chapter walks, and the More Than Sad program for high school teachers and parents.
Sexual Assault & Interpersonal Violence
Prevention education, survivor support, and reporting resources
RAINN — Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network
The nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. Operates the 800-656-HOPE hotline, online chat, and a nationwide network of affiliate providers. Educational resources for schools and parents.
Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)
U.S. DOJ agency administering grants and programs addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Oversees VAWA programs in schools and communities.
NSVRC — National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Provides comprehensive resources on sexual violence prevention for the general public, professionals, and advocates. Coordinates Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April) and the #1in6 awareness campaigns.
loveisrespect — National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline
National resource for teens experiencing dating abuse. 24/7 chat, text, and phone support. Educational content on healthy relationships, recognizing abuse, and safety planning. Call 1-866-331-9474.
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
Provides 24/7 crisis intervention and referrals for child abuse and neglect. Multilingual support. Also offers school-based prevention curriculum (Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe) for grades K–12.
Drug Prevention & Substance Use
Science-based education, prevention programs, and treatment referrals
NIDA for Teens (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
Science-based facts about how drugs affect the developing brain. For teens ages 11–15 as well as their parents and teachers. Interactive videos, games, a health blog, and National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week resources.
Just Think Twice (DEA)
DEA-created resource specifically for young people covering drug facts, consequences, and refusal skills. Age-appropriate content for teens with information on fentanyl, prescription misuse, and emerging substances.
Get Smart About Drugs (DEA)
DEA resource hub for parents, educators, and caregivers. Drug fact sheets, warning signs, conversation guides, and One Pill Can Kill awareness materials about counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills.
Growing Up Drug-Free (DEA)
Free parent guide published by the DEA covering how to talk to children at different developmental stages about drugs and alcohol. Includes conversation starters, warning signs, and response strategies for parents.
Partnership to End Addiction
Free helpline for parents (1-855-378-4373), text, and email support from trained specialists. Guides for talking to children about drugs, addiction, and peer pressure. Evidence-based family resource library.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
Evidence-based frameworks and implementation resources for schools
CASEL — Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning
The definitive authority on SEL in education. Provides the CASEL Framework, evidence-based program guides, policy advocacy resources, and implementation support for districts, schools, and states.
CASEL Program Guide
Ratings of evidence-based SEL programs for PreK–12. Each program is assessed for design, evidence of effectiveness, and implementation quality — a critical tool for selecting school-based SEL curricula.
CDC Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC)
Collaborative model linking student health and academic achievement by coordinating school health services, physical education, nutrition, counseling, and family engagement in a unified framework.
What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) — Social-Emotional
IES-funded resource providing rigorous evidence reviews of educational interventions. The SEL section rates interventions on student behavior, social-emotional outcomes, and academic achievement.
For Parents & Families
Guidance, conversation tools, and family-centered resources
CDC Parents & Families — Violence Prevention
Evidence-based resources for parents on youth violence prevention, including how to talk to children about violence, warning signs, and how to access local mental health resources.
Growing Up Drug-Free — Parent Guide
Free DEA parent guide covering how to talk to children at different developmental stages about drugs and alcohol. Includes conversation starters, warning signs, and response strategies.
StopBullying.gov — Parent Resources
Federal parent-focused section covering how to talk with children about bullying, what to do when your child is bullied or is a bully, and how to work with schools to address bullying behavior.
NAMI Family Support Group & NAMI Basics
NAMI Basics is a free 6-session education program for parents and caregivers of children with mental health conditions. Family Support Groups are peer-led and available nationally in person and online.
Partnership to End Addiction
Free helpline for parents (1-855-378-4373), text, and email support from trained specialists. Guides for talking to children about drugs, addiction, and peer pressure. Evidence-based family resource library.
HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics)
AAP's official parent resource covering child and adolescent mental health, developmental milestones, screen time, bullying, substance use, and school readiness. Peer-reviewed guidance from pediatricians.
For Educators, Administrators & Public Health Officials
Professional tools, grant programs, data, and training
Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
Federal agency supporting states and communities in juvenile justice reform, delinquency prevention, and youth victim services. Model Programs Guide rates evidence-based prevention and intervention programs.
Model Programs Guide (MPG)
Comprehensive database of evidence-based juvenile justice programs rated by rigorous research standards. Covers violence prevention, mentoring, substance abuse, mental health, and school-based interventions.
The Community Guide
Systematic reviews and evidence-based recommendations for community health programs. Includes recommendations on school-based anti-bullying, violence prevention, and substance use prevention interventions.
Healthy People 2030 — School & Youth Objectives
National health promotion framework with measurable 10-year objectives for reducing youth violence, improving school connectedness, and addressing mental health and substance use among adolescents.
National School Climate Center (NSCC)
Promotes positive school climates through research, professional development, and the Comprehensive School Climate Inventory (CSCI) assessment tool used by thousands of schools nationwide.
ASCD Whole Child Initiative
Professional development and advocacy organization supporting the whole child — healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. Research-based resources for educators on school climate, SEL, and student wellness.
Sources: SchoolSafety.gov · CDC.gov/youth-violence · SAMHSA.gov · StopBullying.gov · PACER.org · RAINN.org · CASEL.org · NAMI.org · DEA.gov · NIDA.NIH.gov · OJJDP.gov · SPRC.org · AFSP.org