Sponsors
The bill creates a nationwide, 24/7 suite of helpline, peer-support, and online resources likely to improve early support and family stability, but it does so through a new federal grant with limited competition and fixed five-year awards that could leave communities underserved or services interrupted while costing taxpayers up to $20 million annually.
Parents, caregivers, and youth nationwide gain 24/7 access to a toll-free helpline (calls, texts, live chat) that provides emotional support, parenting guidance, and early identification/referral for developmental, maltreatment, and substance-misuse risks.
Parents and families have access to nationwide, weekly evidence-based mutual support groups to strengthen parenting skills and promote family stability.
Parents and youth can use a centralized website with accessible resources on emotional, social, behavioral, and educational well-being.
Families and youth could face sudden service disruptions if five-year grants are not renewed, risking gaps in helpline, group, and referral services they rely on.
Limiting the award to a single nonprofit may reduce competition and local tailoring, potentially leaving some communities—especially rural or diverse localities—underserved.
Taxpayers will fund the program at up to $20 million per year from FY2027–2032, increasing federal spending (paid by all taxpayers).
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes HHS to fund a single nonprofit to establish a national 24/7 toll-free parent and youth helpline and related services, with $20M/year authorized for FY2027–2032.
Introduced March 27, 2026 by Norma Judith Torres · Last progress March 27, 2026
Creates a federally authorized national, 24-hour, toll-free helpline for parents, caregivers, and youth that handles calls, texts, and live chat, supports a website, and funds nationwide outreach and mutual-support groups. The Department of Health and Human Services would award a single grant to one nonprofit to establish and operate the service, with priority for applicants that already run national helplines and offer weekly evidence-based support groups; the grant is limited to five years and Congress is authorized $20 million per year for FY2027–2032.