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.