211 HELPLINE a free, confidential referral and information
helpline and website that connects people of all ages and from
all communities to the essential health and human services they
need, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 211 can be accessed by phone or
computer (211.org).
211 works a bit like 911. Calls to 211 are routed by the local telephone company
to a local or regional calling center. The 211 center’s referral specialists receive
requests from callers, access databases of resources available from private and
public health and human service agencies, match the callers’ needs to available
resources, and link or refer them directly to an agency or organization that can
help.
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.
• Access to Services in Non-English Languages – including language
translation and interpretation services to help non-English-speaking people
find public resources (Foreign language services vary by location.)
• 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 childcare, after-school
programs, educational programs for low-income families, family resource
centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring and
protective services.
• Suicide Prevention – referral to suicide prevention help organizations.