What is 2-1-1?

February 11 is 2-1-1 Day, and on this special day we are celebrating all the good things United Way 2-1-1 does to help people. Whether you're searching for child or senior care or need assistance with utilities or job training -- United Way 2-1-1 is there to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To share this message about all the wonderful services 2-1-1 provides, we need your help to spread the word.

Every hour of every day, someone in the United States needs essential services - from finding an after-school program 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 services because they do not know where to start. 2-1-1 helps people find and give help.

The 2-1-1 service is a 24-hour, seven-day-a week, 365 day-a-year service, which provides callers with information about and referrals to health and human services for every day needs and in time of crisis.   For example, 2-1-1 offers access to the following types of service organizations:

•       Basic human needs:  food banks, 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 phone lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention and rehabilitation.
•       Employment support:  financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, educational programs.
•       Support for older adults and people with disabilities:  adult day care, Meals on Wheels, respite care, home health care, independent living programs.
•       Support for children, youth, and families:  childcare, after school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services.

The 2-1-1 Call Center is located at the United Way of Greater St. Louis.

Other Missouri United Ways joining 2-1-1 currently include:  United Way of Central Missouri, Columbia Area United Way, United Way of the Ozarks, United Way of Southeast Missouri, United Way of Adair County, United Way of the Mark Twain Area, Carthage Area United Way, and United Way of St. Francois County.

 

Dial 2-1-1 or toll free 1-800-427-4626.      TTY number:  1-866-385-6525

Contact us at http://www.callawayunitedway.com/211.htm , watch the animated video or visit http://www.211helps.org/211-day for more information!