CRISIS/SUPPORT GROUPS

The AIDS ARMS Network. 521-5191. Referral/case management organization that refers persona with AIDS and AlDS-related complex to agencies that can provide assistance in any area, including medical. housing, counseling, assistance with funeral planning, and legal assistance. AIDS ARMS networks with 33 affiliated organizations.

AIDS Information and Resource Center. 521-5124. Provides food and clothing for people with AIDS, as well as financial help with rent, car repairs, etc.. until Social Security benefits go into effect. They provide speakers for any groups interested in Ending out more about AIDS and publish a newspaper on AIDS information, called AIDS Update. Their hotline number is 559-AIDS.

Alcoholics Anonymous. 239-4599. A fellowship of alcoholic men and women who share their experiences with those who want to stop drinking. Members are available to counsel anyone who calls. AA is nondenomi-national and dedicated to the treatment of alcoholism.

American Association of Retired Persons. 361-3060- Will help anyone over 50 with health, auto, and home insurance, age discirmination, and legal and banking questions. They also have a lawyer referral service, a shared housing plan, and they publish a magazine called Modern Maturity. Chapters meet monthly. $5 membership fee.

American Red Cross. 871-2175. Provides disaster aid along with services to military personnel, their families, and veterans; offers courses in CPR, first-aid, preparation for parenthood, babysitting skills, boating safely, swimming, and youth volunteer programs teaching leadership skills to youths ages 10 to 18.

Area Agency on Aging. 741-5244. A 24-hour telephone service that links persons at least 60 years old with social services.

Association for Retarded Citizens. 634-9810. An ad-vocacy organization for children and adults with mental retardation. Offers a respite program of temporary care for families with mentally retarded members, information and referral services, and continuing education,

Big Brothers and Sisters of Metropolitan Dal la. 871-0876. A nonprofit organization that matches adults with children from single-parent families to form a one-on-one. relationship. Age requirements: Boys 7-14; girls 6-15; adult volunteers must be at least 21.

Child Abuse Hotline. 637-4020. For reporting child abuse and neglect to the Texas Department of Human Services.

Circles of Concern. A handbook for parents that is produced by parents of students in the Episcopal, Greenhill, Hockaday, and St. Mark’s schools. The handbook deals with such issues as self-esteem, adolescence and peer pressure, anxiety and depression, suìcide, substance abuse; sexual responsibility, sexually transmitted diseases, and street sense for teenagers. The coalition of parents who have put together this handbook also offers Adolescent Substance Abuse/Resource Directory, an information and referral guide of area services that deal with substance abuse. Both pamphlets are available by writing Circles of Concern, P.O. Box 515832. Dallas 75251-5832. The handbook is $5 for a single copy, $350 each for 25-200 copies, and $2,50 each for more than 200 copies; the resource directory is $2.50 for a single copy, $2 each for 25-200 copies, and $1 each for more than 200 copies.

CONTACT-Dallas Telephone Counseling. Contact-Dallas line 233-2233; Contact-Teen line 233-TEEN. A comprehensive telephone service that offers listening, counseling, and crisis intervention. Also offers emergency aid for food, transportation, shelter, road service, bus tickets, and prescription medicine, within an hour, for anyone who needs help. The contact lines are open 24 hours every day and are staffed by trained volunteers. Call 233-0866 to volunteer.

Crime Prevention. 670-4427. The Dallas Police Department will show homeowners or businesses how to make their buildings burglar-proof for free. It also offers programs on rape and assault prevention, neighborhood crime watch. and employee-crime prevention.

Dallas County Rape Crisis and Child Sexual Abuse Center. 521-1020. Provides therapy for rape victims and children who have been sexually abused. Will videotape sexual assault validation for evaluation purposes for children 12 or under. Victims of Incest is a therapy group for teenage sexual assault victims. Hotline staffed 24 hours. Services provided free to Dallas County residents.

Downtown Dallas Family Shelter. 741-6515. Provides a 30-day slay and other services for homeless families.

Easier Seals Society for Children. 358-5261. Provides outpatient services for children, newborn to 16, with physical and developmental disabilities. They offer physical, occupational and speech therapy, audiology, psychiatric and social services, and medical clinics,

Faintly Outreach Program. 231-6584. Funded through the Texas Department of Human Services, the program is a volunteer organizatíon for the prevention of child abuse. Volunteers work with individual clients and a speakers’ bureau provides programs on teaching children the tools to prevent sexual abuse.

Mothers Against Drank Driving (MADD). 243-6633. A victim support group for those who have been injured or lost loved ones to drunk drivers; also an education and lobbying group.

Oak Lawn Counseling Center. 520-8108. Offers general low-cost counseling for individuals, families, groups, etc., for all types of problems. Also offers AIDS counseling at no cost for people with AIDS.

Parents Without Partners. 556-0908. Single parents with children (custody not required) meet several times each month for socializing and support. Parental status must be verified. $35 per year.

Pastoral Counseling and Education Center. 526-4525. Offers a variety of counseling, including family counseling and play therapy for children. Also offers seminars and workshops on a variety of subjects, including surviving traumas, child abuse, and AIDS.

Suicide and Crisis Center. 828-1000. Phones are staffed 24 hours with counselors trained in suicide prevention. Support groups and/or references are available for family and friends of suicide victims. Speakers’ bureaus offer presentations on suicide prevention.