You’re Not Standing There Alone

Every one of these organizations works with people right now — today — who are exactly where you are. Whether you’re a teen trying to make a different choice than the ones around you, or a parent or family member trying to hold things together, there’s a real person on the other end of every number below. This list isn’t everything that exists, but it’s a place to start.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.

If You Need Help Right Now

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Free, confidential, 24/7 — for any kind of crisis, not just suicide. Spanish-language text and chat support is available, and there are dedicated resources for youth and LGBTQ+ callers.

Crisis Text Line

Text HOME to 741741 to reach a trained crisis counselor by text, 24/7, anywhere in the U.S. — good for teens who’d rather text than talk on the phone.

HopeLine NC

Call (919) 231-4525 or toll-free (877) 235-4525. A North Carolina-based, confidential crisis and suicide-prevention line — you’ll talk to someone who knows the local landscape.

NC 211

Dial 211 or call 1-888-892-1162, 24/7. Not a crisis line specifically, but the front door to almost everything else on this page — food, housing, utilities, transportation, and more, sorted by what’s actually available in your county.

NC Peer Warmline

Call 1-855-PEERS-NC (1-855-733-7762). Not a crisis line — this connects you with someone who’s personally been through a mental health or substance use struggle, for support before things reach a crisis point.

Mentorship & Ways to Get Involved

Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils (JCPC)

Run through the NC Department of Public Safety in all 100 NC counties. JCPCs connect at-risk youth and their families with local, community-based programs — mentoring, counseling, intervention services — often before a young person is ever formally in the system. Find your county’s council through NC DPS (ncdps.gov).

Communities In Schools of North Carolina

A statewide network working inside schools to keep kids connected and on track toward graduation — site coordinators who know individual students and connect them with whatever they need, from tutoring to basic necessities. Find a local affiliate at cisnc.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters

One-on-one youth mentoring, with several regional affiliates serving North Carolina (Western NC, Central Carolinas, and others). A “Big” is matched with a “Little” for consistent, long-term mentorship. Start at bbbs.org to find the chapter serving your area.

NC DPS Intensive Intervention & Functional Family Therapy

Community-based programs for youth at higher risk of reoffending, working with the whole family rather than just the young person — usually accessed through a JCPC referral or the juvenile court system.

Support for Families

NC CURE (Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants)

An NC-based advocacy organization made up in part of people who are formerly incarcerated or have family members currently incarcerated — built on the understanding of what your family is going through. Learn more at nccure.org.

Center for Community Transitions

Charlotte-based, statewide-reaching nonprofit focused on keeping families connected during incarceration and rebuilding those bonds afterward — alongside employment and housing support. Call (704) 494-0001 or visit centerforcommunitytransitions.org.

Angel Tree (Prison Fellowship)

A national program, run through local churches, that connects children with an incarcerated parent to gifts, camp opportunities, and ongoing relationship-building — helping preserve the parent-child bond across the distance. Availability depends on local church partners; start at prisonfellowship.org to find a coordinator near you.

NC 211

Worth repeating here — dial 211 for help finding local family support groups, counseling, transportation to visitation, and other day-to-day resources near you.

Education & a Fresh Start

Legal Aid of NC — Criminal Record Expunction Clinic

Free clinics (held over Zoom and Facebook Live) explaining who may qualify to have parts of a criminal record removed in North Carolina. Call the helpline at 1-866-219-LANC (5262) or find the next clinic at legalaidnc.org.

NC Local Reentry Councils

28 councils covering 46 NC counties, helping with housing, employment, transportation, and paperwork for anyone coming home after incarceration. Find your county’s council through NC DAC (dac.nc.gov).

Recidivism Reduction Call Center

Call 1-888-852-0004 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm). Staffed by certified community health workers who are themselves formerly incarcerated, with a database of 800+ vetted reentry resources, including employers who hire people with records.

OurJourney

County-specific reentry guides and a free app (MyJourney) connecting people to food, job training, and mental health resources. Visit ourjourney2gether.com.

NCWorks Career Centers

Statewide career centers that work with people who have criminal records on job searches, resumes, and interview prep, at no cost. Find a location at ncworks.gov.

Know a Resource We Should Add?

This list will keep growing. If you’ve used an organization that made a real difference for your family — or if you run one — email us at info@bridgestotransformation.org and we’ll take a look.

A note on accuracy: phone numbers, hours, and eligibility for programs like these can change. We do our best to keep this list current, but please call ahead to confirm before making plans around any one resource.