title: Parent support through telephone consultation.
abstract: Parents of young children are known to need special support but few communities have made such support widely available. Bright Beginnings Warmline, a free non-medical telephone service in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was established to provide informational and emotional support for caregivers, with emphasis on parents of children from birth to 5 years of age. The goals of the Warmline are to offer callers sensitive, knowledgeable support and to reduce several specific conditions known to be associated with child maltreatment. This paper describes the Warmline, including its history and rationale, goals and methods of operation. An analysis of the calls made to the Warmline by mothers of infants one month of age and younger is also presented.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elmer
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Maloni
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011641:Public Relations; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D013689:Telephone