Crisis Policy

What The Wagon Method is not

We want to be very clear about what this platform can and cannot do.

• Not a crisis line. We do not have crisis counselors standing by. We cannot reach you in real time if you are in danger.
• Not clinical advice. Nothing on the platform is medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. Educational content is a starting point, not a treatment plan.
• Not a substitute for emergency services. When a child or caregiver is in danger, you need 911, 988, a local crisis responder, or a trusted person near you. We are not any of those.
• Not a mandated reporter for you. The platform does not automatically report concerns to authorities on your behalf. That is your decision and responsibility as a caregiver or professional.

Crisis resources we trust

Immediate danger

• 911. Call for any life-threatening emergency in the United States.
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988. Available 24/7 for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis, including suicidal thoughts, substance use crises, and emotional distress. Free and confidential.
• Crisis Text Line. Text HOME to 741741 to reach a trained crisis counselor. Free, 24/7.

Child abuse and neglect

• Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline. Call or text 1-800-422-4453. Available 24/7 with professional counselors in more than 170 languages.
• Your local child protective services agency. If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, report it to your state or county CPS office.

For children and teens directly

• Boys Town National Hotline. Call 1-800-448-3000. Trained counselors available 24/7 for youth and families.
• National Runaway Safeline. Call 1-800-786-2929 or visit 1800runaway.org. Support for youth considering running away or already on the street.

Domestic violence and relationship safety

• National Domestic Violence Hotline. Call 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or chat at thehotline.org. Free, 24/7, confidential.

For caregivers in crisis

• 988 Lifeline. Caregivers are welcome to call 988 for their own mental health crisis or intense burnout.
• SAMHSA National Helpline. Call 1-800-662-4357 for treatment referrals and support for mental health and substance use.
• Foster care respite services. Your placement agency can help connect you with respite care if you are at the edge of what you can carry.

What happens if crisis language is detected on the platform

Our safety layer watches for language that suggests immediate danger. When it fires, the platform takes these steps:

1. AI features stop processing your message. We do not send the message to any model.
2. We show a calm interstitial with the crisis resources above, clearly labeled and easy to tap.
3. If the concern involves a child, we surface resources specific to child abuse and neglect reporting.
4. We save your draft locally so you can come back to it later if you choose, but we do not require you to continue.
5. We never take action on your behalf without telling you. We do not call authorities, alert your agency, or message anyone connected to you.

When to call 911

• A child or adult is seriously injured or in immediate physical danger.
• A child is threatening to hurt themselves or someone else and you cannot keep them or others safe.
• An adult is threatening to hurt a child, a partner, or themselves in a way you cannot stop.
• A medical emergency is unfolding, including overdose, severe injury, or sudden unconsciousness.
• A child has gone missing and you believe they are in danger.

Reaching out to your care team

Outside of true emergencies, the fastest help often comes from a person who already knows your child. Your caseworker, your therapist, your doctor, a school counselor, a trusted friend in the community. Save their numbers somewhere you can find them when your hands are shaking. If you have not built that list yet, the wagon dashboard includes a place to store emergency contacts under the safety wheel.

We are here for the long trail

The Wagon Method is built for the long walk of healing, not the emergency at the trailhead. When you are out of the acute moment and ready to take the next small step, we will still be here. Come back when you are ready.

Questions or feedback

If you have ideas for how we can make this policy more useful, or if you know of a crisis resource we should add, please write to safety@thewagonmethod.com. We review this page regularly.