Become a teen listener 

Teen Listeners are the heart of Teen Line. As a Teen Listener, you’ll provide peer-to-peer support to youth in need through our hotline, texts, and emails. You’ll be trained to handle difficult topics with compassion, care, and confidentiality—offering teens a safe space to talk and feel understood.

Volunteers support our hotline every evening from 5:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. PST from our offices in West Los Angeles. We hold three in-person training sessions per year (Fall, Spring, and Summer), and participation is limited to teens who live in or near Los Angeles.

Applications have been posted! Click the button below to apply. To view our Fall 2026 training schedule, please click here.

All apps are due on Monday September 8, 2026 by 5pm.

Apply Now

Subscribe to the interest list

To be notified once future applications are available, please sign up for our future volunteer email list by clicking on the subscribe button below and choosing “Prospective Teen Line Volunteer” from the dropdown menu.

Subscribe to our Volunteer Interest List

Why volunteer with Teen Line?

  • Receive 65+ hours of training in active listening, crisis intervention, and mental health support.
  • Learn about key topics including suicide prevention, identity and diversity, self-harm, abuse, and more.
  • Build essential communication and empathy skills while supporting other teens through their toughest moments.
  • Earn community service hours (unpaid position).
  • Join a supportive community and form lasting friendships with fellow Listeners.
  • Know that you are making a real difference—sometimes even saving lives.

“I met some of my closest friends at Teen Line. Especially in my first few months when it was most important, the community and environment was conducive to forming meaningful connection (with both RAs and fellow teens). Even though the work can get really intense, I have looked forward to shifts. Teen Line was one of the best decisions I ever made.”

– Addison K., Former Teen Line Volunteer

Volunteer requirements

  • Be at least 14 years old. Earliest training session teens can apply for is Fall (first semester) of 9th grade. The latest teens can apply for is Fall (first semester) of 11th grade. We do not accept seniors and 2nd semester juniors.
  • Live in or near Los Angeles, California.
  • Be available for in-person training and volunteer shifts in West LA (no remote opportunities at this time).
  • Attend the training, interview, and orientation sessions with no absences.
  • Show proof of a negative TB Blood test within the past 12 months once accepted to our program (see FAQ for details).
  • Commit to at least two evening shifts per month.

Have questions? Reach out to Shamen Balasooriya at [email protected].

Still have questions?

Check out our Teen Line Volunteer FAQ.

 

Adult volunteers

Adult volunteers work as Resource Associates at Teen Line. It’s a wonderful opportunity to support our teen volunteers to help their peers on the hotline. If you are an adult mental health associate looking for volunteer opportunities, please review the information below. Our adult volunteer opportunity is for post masters level clinicians.

Resource associate volunteer requirements

  1. To apply, you must be an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) or Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW) registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).
  2. Must have 2,000 hours or fewer completed toward the 3,000 hours required for licensure.
  3. Be able to commit to one-year with Teen Line and work 5 shifts per month, (5:15 PM – 10:15PM) with at least one shift per month being a weekend night (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday).

Application and screening process

If you are interested in volunteering, please send your resume to Cheryl Eskin at [email protected]. There is a waitlist, which you will be added to. Once there is an opening, you will be scheduled for interviews with Teen Line management and be asked to complete an online application, as well as submit two letters of recommendation (at least one of the letters must be from a current or former supervisor).

Onboarding requirements

Once accepted to the program, Resource Associates will be asked to complete the following onboarding requirements before beginning training:

  1. Negative TB Test within the last 12 months
  2. Background Check
  3. Media Release form
  4. Review and sign our Teen Line Policies
  5. HR trainings