The 2-1-1 System connects people with needed human services through an easy to remember three-digit phone number, the web and a variety of community interactions. When someone connects with 2-1-1, specially trained information and referral specialists analyze what services are needed and provide the appropriate resource and related information. Currently more than 65% of the U.S. population has access to 2-1-1, with more systems going live each month.
Every hour of every day, someone in the United States needs essential services from finding substance abuse assistance to securing adequate care for a child or an aging parent. Faced with a dramatic increase in the number of agencies and help lines, people often don't know where to turn. In many cases, people end up going without these necessary and readily available services because they do not know where to start.
While services that are offered through 2-1-1 vary from community to community, 2-1-1 provides callers with information about and referrals to human services for every day needs and in times of crisis. For example, 2-1-1 can offer access to the following types of services:
- Basic Human Needs Resources: food banks, clothing closets, shelters, rent assistance, utility assistance.
- Physical and Mental Health Resources: health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health, Children’s Health Insurance Program, medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention and rehabilitation.
- Employment Supports: Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, education programs.
- Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities: adult day care, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, home health care, transportation, homemaker services.
- Support for Children, Youth and Families: child care, after school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services.
- Volunteer Opportunities and Donations.
The 2005 hurricane season, particularly Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, tested the 2-1-1 system in ways that it had not been tested before. All around the country, 2-1-1 call and resource centers responded professionally; coordinating services and help for those who had been displaced by the storms, and sending staff and resources to the 2-1-1 operation centers that were dealing directly with the crisis, insuring that information was accurate and up-to-the minute.
The 2-1-1 mission in times of disaster is to provide emergency assistance support covering all phases of an emergency (prevention, planning, response and recovery). The core goal during all stages of an emergency is to provide maximum community access to critical resources and information to help reduce the harmful effects of the emergency.
The 2-1-1 role in disaster preparedness and recovery includes:
- 2-1-1 call centers will receive calls during a disaster requesting assistance and/or information from the public. The public will look to the call center for information on shelter, clothing, food, rumor control and eventually rebuilding and recovery information.
- 2-1-1 can provide vital, timely and coordinated information for service accessibility and the sharing of resources. The coordinated dissemination of information promotes accuracy, improves service accessibility and increases the impact of shared resources.
- Resource database sharing is critical in times of a disaster. There may be times when the only information available to staff and the public is through the website.
- 2-1-1 can receive calls offering assistance and donations.
- The recovery of a large-scale disaster can last from a few months to several years. 2-1-1 systems are knowledgeable about existing resources and linkages to these services will be important in re-building the community.
- The 2-1-1 system data on needs, unmet needs and geographical information are useful tools for city, county, state and federal planning, especially in times of re-building.
- 2-1-1 systems become logical sources of information in disaster response and preparedness. All populations are served, including persons with disabilities.
Support United Way's Public Policy work around 2-1-1.
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For more information, visit www.211.org today, or contact the 2-1-1 team at United Way of America:
Linda Daily, Director, 2-1-1
800-892-2757 ext. 474
Trisha Ferrell, Lead Associate, 2-1-1
800-892-2757 ext. 375
Tino Paz, Manager, 2-1-1
407-673-2003
