About Listings and Guidelines for Submission 

This database has comprehensive, up-to-date information on health and social services in Delaware that are provided free of charge or at minimal cost by nonprofit and government organizations. In a few instances for-profit entities are included. The criteria by which services are included or excluded are described below. Inclusion doesn’t imply endorsement, and exclusion does not indicate disapproval. ContactLifeline reserves the right to edit information to meet format, guideline, and space requirements.

Database Inclusion Guidelines

Included in this database are: 

1. City, county, state, or federal governments that operate health and social services that are available to Delaware residents. These may be located in Kent, New Castle or Sussex counties. 
 
2. Nonprofit organizations and community groups that provide direct health and social services to Delaware residents. Organizations meet IRS criteria for being tax-exempt (i.e. 501(c) 3). Examples include organizations that provide health care, housing, food or food stamps, counseling, or job search and placement services.
  
3. Public and private school administrative offices, along with the types 
 
of programs offered that serve Delaware residents. 
4. Public libraries. Special libraries operated by nonprofit agencies are included if the organization meets the other remaining inclusion rules. 
 
5. Churches, civic, social, or fraternal groups that offer health or social services for the community-at-large and are not restricted to their members. In this instance only service sites and programs are listed, not the organizations themselves. 
 
6. Self-help support groups offered by nonprofit or government agencies that do not charge a fee or where the fee is nominal and meant to cover incidental costs such as refreshments. 
 
7. Hotlines, help lines, information lines, or information and referral lines operated by nonprofit and government organizations that provide information on health and social services that are accessible to Delaware residents.
  
8. Hospitals, inpatient, and outpatient facilities that provide health or social services to Delaware residents at no cost or on a sliding scale. These services accept Medicare, Medicaid, or other health insurance programs. 
 
9. For-profit agencies or business that offer needed services that are not offered by any nonprofit or government entity. Examples include crime scene cleaners, waste disposal companies, and/or ambulance services. 
 
10. Agencies that provide referrals to licensed entities such as therapists, skilled nursing facilities, residential care facilities for the elderly/disabled (assisted living facilities, board and care facilities, etc.), in-home care agencies, child care centers, and in-home childcare. 
 
11. For-profit counseling centers that provide free service or offer sliding fees, and accept Medicare, Medicaid, or other private health insurance payments. 
 
12. For-profit housing for seniors and people with disabilities. 

Database Exclusion Guidelines

Excluded from this database are: 

1. Agencies that give information or provide public awareness that is only of a political or commercial nature. 
 
2. Organizations that deny service because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, nationality, or any other basis not permitted by law, or that promote racism or bigotry. 
 
3. Organizations that violate local, state, or federal laws or regulations. 
 
4. Organizations or programs that offer a service to members only, such as churches, social clubs, and medical services with the exception of hospital emergency rooms. 
 
5. Organizations or programs that require a physician or insurance referral or certification of eligibility for service except for disability services. 
 
6. Organizations that provide unlicensed services based out of the provider’s home. 
 
7. Organizations where standards of service are heavily regulated and for which there exists a governmental entity that provides central referral for the service. An example is physicians, nursing facilities, etc. unless the information is provided by the state licensing agency. 
 
8. For-profit organizations that don't meet inclusion rule number 9 (i.e. they provide a service that also is offered by a nonprofit or government entity). 
 
9. Individuals performing services that require licenses, but do not operate within agencies. Examples are marriage counselors, psychotherapists, and massage therapists, medical doctors, and dentists.

Additional Database Guidelines

1. We reserve the right to exclude from the database any organization that we have adequate reason to believe may spread hatred or have a philosophy that could be hurtful to the well-being of individuals, groups, or the community as a whole. 
 
2. We also reserve the right to refuse to list or to discontinue listings for organizations that have had serious complaints lodged against them by a regulatory body, other organizations in the database that provide similar services, or ContactLifeline staff. 
 
3. Potential grounds for exclusion or removal from the database may include—but is not limited to—service non-delivery, lack of verification, fraud, misrepresentation, discrimination, or criminal activities. 
 
4. Organizations must demonstrate the ability to provide ongoing, reliable services and have an established funding base or the support of an established parent organization. Exceptions may be made in emerging or underfunded service areas.

Since 1974, 
ContactLifeline 
has responded 
to over 
900,000 calls - 
24 hours a day, 
7 days a week.