Dialing 211

Every day someone needs human services and/or community resources. Where do you go to get it?   Well, you can search all over the internet, you can call social services, you can ask friends but there is a number you can call to get all your answers and that is dialing 211 on your phone. It will provide you with volunteer opportunites and community services.

I learned about 211 when I lived back east. It is a network of resources for the disabled, elderly, those having problems and they connect you to the right resource and make suggestions on what you need. I had never heard of it and thought it was bogus to begin with. But, I did dial it and at the time, I was alone, my roommate of ten years who was also disabled..had died and I was faced with all the bills at once. Very daunting situation. So, I dialed 211 and I got answers.

Here is more information on 211:

http://www.211.org/

http://www.fcc.gov/guides/dial-211-essential-community-services

2-1-1 is special abbreviated telephone number reserved in Canada and the United States as an easy-to-remember three-digit telephone number meant to provide quick information and referrals to health and human service organizations for both services from charities and from governmental agencies.  Wikipedia

This link you put in your zip code and it gives you the one locally for you. Each state has their own 211 so that the information they give you is for your area.

“2-1-1 is an easy to remember telephone number that connects people with important community services and volunteer opportunities. 2-1-1 is available in 78% of the United States. Both the United Way of America (UWA) and the Alliance for Information and Referral Systems(AIRS) are strongly supporting the federal legistlation that will ensure adequate funding so that every American has access to 2-1-1 in the United States.”  Community Connections

According to the Federal Communications Commission, these are the types of things you can find out by dialing 211

Types of Referrals Offered by 211

• Basic Human Needs Resources – including food and clothing banks, shelters, rent assistance, and utility assistance.
• Physical and Mental Health Resources – including health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health resources, health insurance programs for children, medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, and drug and alcohol intervention and rehabilitation.
• Work Support – including financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance and education programs.
• Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities – including adult day care, community meals, respite care, home health care, transportation and homemaker services.
• Children, Youth and Family Support – including child care, after school programs, educational programs for low-income families, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring and protective services.
• Emergency Suicide Prevention – referral to suicide prevention help organizations. Callers can also dial the following National Suicide Prevention Hotline numbers operated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services:
  •  1-800-SUICIDE  ( 1-800-784-2433 )
  •  1-888-SUICIDE  ( 1-888-784-2433 )
  •  1-877-SUICIDA  ( 1-877-784-2432 ) (Spanish).