---
title: "Children & Family Services | Bark"
url: https://stacklist.com/card/14e8fddf-ba9a-4f65-a8a6-8b0f85fe77fd
source_url: "https://www.bark.us/learn/children-family-services/"
stack: https://stacklist.com/stack/8f7e2e58-3657-4fff-96bd-4531730d1198
summary: "Bark Phone is a specialized device designed for underserved youth that combines smartphone connectivity with comprehensive safety features including predation alerts, location tracking, and mental health resources. The device addresses critical safety concerns while maintaining essential communication and supporting critical thinking development in vulnerable student populations."
tags: "digital-safety, youth-protection, parental-controls, smartphone-security, mental-health, vulnerable-populations, online-threats"
key_entities: "Bark Phone (technology), Talkspace (technology), Poiema Foundation (organization), bark.us (organization), digital-safety (concept), parental-controls (concept), online-predation (concept), Gabi (person)"
classification: "reference"
content_hash: "sha256:9778f9a2865e529357de7f1147d28a794e9500b41a283349516716e8909299bd"
acp_version: "0.2"
token_counts_approximate: 468
visibility: public
agent_accessible: true
status: "final"
---

# Children & Family Services | Bark

This isn’t just a phone. For underserved youth, a phone is a lifeline. But smartphones have expanded the functionality of a phone to go beyond connectivity — opening the door for major safety concerns. Learn more The reality of connection today Regular phones present dangers like: 24/7 access across email, text, call, social media, and more — from peers, strangers and others Apps that collect personal data Digital footprints that follow you Incredibly advanced AI schemes resulting in trafficking, grooming, and sextortion The Bark Phone is a safer device that supports today’s reality Controls can help manage who can call or text Alerts across 26 categories flag for predation, as well as other potential threats to physical safety or mental well-being Critical safety features like location tracking remain accessible Book a consult Maintain connectivity while reducing risk for vulnerable students Alerts for trafficking, predators & more Location alerts Rideshare access Approve all contacts Hot spots for online access Talkspace comes built-in Addresses 3 key needs for vulnerable populations Safety Maintain connection and track location of vulnerable student populations. Mental health Alerts help your team understand threats to mental well-being. Talkspace Go, available on Bark phones, provides mental health resources. Critical thinking Bark helps youth understand the impact of decisions as you receive alerts. Built for safety “The Bark Phone is different because it’s built for safety. You can’t just slap parental controls on a regular phone and expect it to work.” —Gabi, program director of Poiema Foundation Ready to get started? Contact sales@bark.us to learn more about Bark’s offerings. Additional resources Poiema foundation case study Slang guide Safer tech: A lifeline for underserved populations Waking up to the modern era of digital safety