LIVE UNITED. GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER.
Every hour of every day, hundreds of people need essential human services - they are looking for training, employment, food pantries, help for an aging parent, addiction prevention programs for their teenage children, affordable housing options, support groups and ways of becoming part of their community. 2-1-1 allows people to give help and to get help.
2-1-1 is an easy to remember telephone number that, where available, connects people with important community services and volunteer opportunities.
In 2009, the PA Public Utility Commission approved the 2-1-1 number as an information and referral number. Federal and state funding are critical to get this program going. Our federal legislators all support 2-1-1 funding so let them know that you support 2-1-1 funding, too.
Sen. Specter – (202) 224-4254 www.specter.senate.gov
Sen. Casey – (202) 224-6324 or (570) 941-0930 www.casey.senate.gov
Rep. Kanjorski – (570)825-2200 www.kanjorski.house.gov
Rep. Carney – (570)585-9988 www.carney.house.gov
Visit the 211 national website
2-1-1 Frequently Asked Questions
What is 2-1-1?
- 2-1-1 is an easy to remember telephone number that connects callers to information about critical health and human services available in their community.
- 2-1-1 reaches approximately 234 million people (over 78% of the total U.S. population) in 47 states and the District of Columbia. Yet, millions of Americans still need to be connected.
- America needs 2-1-1 to be accessible nationwide. As the number of organizations providing specialized services is on the rise, people find it frustrating and confusing to access community services. 2-1-1 provides a one-stop service for vital information.
- 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 Resource: food banks, clothing, shelters, rent assistance, utility assistance.
- Physical and Mental Health Resources: medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention, rehabilitation, health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health, children’s health insurance programs.
- Employment Support: unemployment benefits, financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, education programs.
- Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities: home health care, adult day care, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, transportation, and homemaker services.
- Support for Children, Youth and Families: Quality childcare, Success by 6, after school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services.
- Volunteer opportunities and donations.
How is United Way involved in 2-1-1?
- 2-1-1 was first launched by United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta in 1997 and now reaches into 47 states and the District of Columbia.
- United Way supports 2-1-1 as the first number to call to connect with health and human services and volunteer opportunities.
- UWA has declared February 11th as National 2-1-1 Day.
- United Ways have a long-standing tradition of commitment to funding information and referral (I&R) services in their respective communities.
- 2-1-1 and its goal to contribute vital information that benefits individuals and communities mirrors the mission of the 1,400 United Ways nationwide to better people’s lives.
How is 2-1-1 funded?
- 2-1-1 centers have various funding sources -- local United Ways, community foundations, Federal and local government funds.
- Before she left the Senate, Hillary Clinton (D-NY), with support from co-sponsor Richard Burr (R-NC), introduced bi-partisan legislation named the Calling 211 Act that would provide Federal funding for 2-1-1 and encourage support of 2-1-1 nationwide. Sen. Patty Murry (D-WA) has since taken the leadership role for the Democrats in the Senate.
- # In House, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) are the lead sponsors of the Calling for 2-1-1 Act. See the Pass Calling for 2-1-1 Act page for more information.
Cost Benefit Analysis
United Way of America commissioned a study to assess the expected costs and anticipated benefits of a nationwide 2-1-1 system. Completed in December, the University of Texas Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources concluded the following:
- When an individual seeks information or referral services for which they have little or no prior knowledge or experience, dialing 2-1-1 is much simpler than other options.
- General information systems, such as 4-1-1, provide information that is too general in nature to be very useful and may charge a fee.
- As a one-stop shop for social services, 2-1-1 would ultimately save Americans millions of dollars in taxpayer money.
- A national service of this type is estimated to provide $1.1 billion in net value to society over the next 10 years.
Pennsylvania is one of only 3 states that don’t have a 211 system and the reason is funding. Our citizens do not have easy and updated access to information during disasters and emergencies or don’t know where to turn when they lose jobs or need help. While there may be differing views about how to implement 2-1-1, there is an increasing understanding that the Commonwealth needs to join the community of 47 other states that have established 2-1-1. One barometer of support for 2-1-1 is the over 200 organizations from across Pennsylvania that have endorsed the creation of a 2-1-1 system for the state.
Significant gains have been made recently concerning The Calling for 2-1-1 Act (S.211/H.R.211) because there is a growing consensus that 2-1-1 is important to and needed in Pennsylvania. PA Senators Casey and Specter and Reps. Kanjorski and Carney are all co-sponsors of the legislation. Sen. Specter has also requested earmark funding for the project.
Please call or email them and thank them for their support:
Sen. Specter – (202) 224-4254 www.specter.senate.gov
Sen. Casey – (202) 224-6324 or (570) 941-0930 www.casey.senate.gov
Rep. Kanjorski – (570)825-2200 www.kanjorski.house.gov
Rep. Carney – (570)585-9988 www.carney.house.gov