800-4321 or 131 – We Hear Your Call

ChildLine is a proactive response to the needs of children and young persons. It is a free, confidential, anonymous telephone helpline and listening service for children and young persons in trouble or danger or who simply need someone to talk to.

ChildLine Mission Statement

ChildLine aims to ensure that children in Trinidad & Tobago live in an environment free from physical, emotional, sexual and psychological violence. It aims to provide access to quality and confidential psychosocial counselling, life skills information, including sexual reproductive health and HIV, as well as referral to specialized services. To this end we will develop and implement systems, programmes and projects alone or in conjunction with other organizations in public and private sectors to prevent, alleviate and stop violence from occurring. We will cooperate with national, regional and international organizations whose aims support those of ChildLine and through them contribute to building a culture of peace, love and understanding in Trinidad & Tobago.

ChildLine is free

ChildLine can be accessed via an 800 number (800 4321)or 131.

This is at no cost to the caller – the service is free.

ChildLine is confidential and anonymous

Callers to ChildLine are not required to give their names, addresses or other personal information in order to get help. We do not trace calls.

ChildLine provides support

The emphasis at ChildLine is not on solving children’s problems for them. Rather, we focus on providing callers with a safe, virtual space in which they can ventilate feelings and receive support from someone who believes what they say without being judgmental or prejudiced. Many of the children who telephone ChildLine have never before spoken to anyone about their situations. We provide an opportunity for their first disclosure and for the psychological support of which they are in need. We help link children with family members and other persons from whom they can receive help.

ChildLine provides front line intervention.

At the end of a call, most callers are satisfied with the result and are able to move forward on their own. Callers are always encouraged to find support within their own families and social networks, such as an aunt, godparent, teacher or religious leader, and to call ChildLine again if they feel the need. Callers are also given contact information for other places where they can find help or any other information they need.

ChildLine is accessible

From 1st August 2007, with funding and support from UNICEF, ChildLine is open every day of the week including Sundays and Public Holidays from 8 a.m. to 12 midnight 365 days a year. It is available to any child or young person in Trinidad and Tobago. Because the service is accessed via telephone and is not confined to a specific geographic location, it can be used by young persons throughout the country. The only limiting factor to accessing ChildLine is access to a telephone. However, since the service is free, children can call from a neighbour’s telephone, the school compound or the pay phone on the street corner.

ChildLine is people helping people

ChildLine is made up of a team of volunteer listeners who respond to the needs and concerns of callers. All our listeners receive specialised training and are supervised. Volunteers also help with outreach work.

ChildLine is about building bridges

A vital arm of our service is outreach. One goal of outreach is to sensitise members of the public, in particular our target group of children and young persons, about the availability of the service. This is done through workshops which are conducted in primary and secondary schools. Workshops are also conducted at community centres throughout Trinidad & Tobago. Our partners include PTAs, community groups, NGOs, local and international businesses, and international organizations and funders to help build linkages between children, parents and the wider community . ChildLine has formed links and partnerships with organizations such as Families in Action, Rape Crisis Society and Rainbow Rescue . We also collaborate with the Community Police and the Ministry of Social Services – Family Services Division and Family Court. We work closely with other stakeholders such as 800-Save and Children’s Homes including homes for pregnant teenagers, throughout the country.

Launch of the Expansion of ChildLine

On September 12th, 2007, we lauched the Expansion of ChildLine moving from the previous 8 hours per day to 16 hours, thanks to funding recieved from UNICEF.