USA: 100 Million Served By 2-1-1 Helpline After 5-Year Promotion

Washington, D.C., August 1, 2005: Efforts to make the 211 help line available nationwide got a boost last week with Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) joining with celebrity George Clooney and United Way of America to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the effort. The service, seen by many as a great help to older Americans, now reaches more than 100 million people nationwide, covering all or parts of 32 states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. The 2-1-1 phone numbers offers one-stop service for vital information and referrals to services like clothing and emergency shelter, physical and mental health resources, employment support, as well as, resources for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, children, youth and families. The problem has been money. In January the United Way, the principal promoter of the idea, announced a $500,000 gift from the Wal-Mart Foundation. That same month, Sen. Clinton, Sen. Dole and a number of colleagues introduced a bill for additional federal funding. This bill, which died in the previous session, spearheads a bipartisan effort to secure $150 million in federal funding for 2-1-1 and support its nationwide adoption. The Federal Communications Commission assigned 2-1-1 as the national telephone number for telephone service for information and referral on human services, declaring that 2-1-1 best satisfies the public interest in allotting the limited resource of this abbreviated number. This year, the Commission will assess the widespread utilization of the 2-1-1 telephone number and evaluate whether to continue the assignment of that telephone number for that service. Promoters say 2-1-1 is a cost-effective answer to help local communities navigate the complex and ever- growing maze of human service agencies and programs, and that the experiences of 9-1-1 and 4-1-1 make it clear that concise 3-digit dialing works. "Where 2-1-1 is operational, people can more quickly gain access to a full range of community resources," said Brian Gallagher, UWA President and CEO. "In a country where we are only as strong as our local communities, we must ensure that all, not just some, have the ability to give and get help when and where they need it. A nationwide 2-1-1 system would do that and citizens can make it happen." As evidenced by the response to the hurricanes in Florida last year, where hundreds of thousands of calls went to 2-1-1 over many weeks, an active, robust 2-1-1 system can be an integral crisis response tool for communities across the country. In widespread emergencies like an attack, flood, tornado, fire, or health crisis, not only does this valuable service alleviate the strain on systems like 9-1-1, but it is also there for people who don't know where to turn for help, thus saving individuals time and agencies and taxpayers money by making existing systems work more efficiently and effectively. The 2-1-1 servuice can also be used as a long-term community planning tool, say the promoters. Based on aggregate data about the types of calls a local 2-1-1 call center receives, communities are in a better position to anticipate demand for services and mobilize resources to meet changing needs. "With the abundance of agencies and help lines, people often aren't sure where to turn to get the proper assistance," said Senator Dole. "The 2-1-1 line allows families and individuals to find the faith-based, community or government agency to best serve their needs. United Way 2-1-1 has done an outstanding job in working to meet so many needs. I have seen firsthand why it is so important to coordinate volunteers and various agencies, particularly during a crisis situation." "For some time now I have been an ardent supporter of the creation of a nationwide 2-1-1 system," said Senator Clinton. "I had the pleasure of recently visiting the opening of a 2-1-1 call center in Rochester, New York, to see firsthand the positive impact it can have on individuals by making a wide array of social services and volunteer opportunity information available quickly and easily. 2-1-1 currently reaches only a little more than one-third of the U.S. population because of funding constraints. The federal government partnering with state and local 2-1-1 stakeholders will help bring real impact by helping to launch it nationwide." Cost-benefit Analysis A study, completed by the University of Texas Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources, concluded that 2-1-1 would ultimately provide American taxpayers up to $1.1 billion in net value over the next 10 years. Copyright: SeniorJournal.com