Learn More, Watch our Video about 2-1-1  2-1-1 is the abbreviated dialing code that the FCC has authorized telephone companies
to make available to local communities to use to provide easier access to comprehensive information and referral service for health and human service resources. This is a tremendous public service for Seattle/ King County residents. 2-1-1 is similar to the 9-1-1 initiative that made it so much easier for the public to call for help for public safety emergencies. Today, we take 9-1-1 for granted.
In communities where 2-1-1 has already been implemented, the public has quickly remembered the number and used it. Information and referral calls have increased dramatically, with the result that people are being linked with the most appropriate provider in an efficient manner.
What is Washington State doing? The legislature has designated a non-profit, Washington Information Network 2-1-1 (WIN211), to develop and implement the system. Eight call centers have been designated to provide full state coverage. In addition to call centers, 2-1-1 will has an online statewide database of health and human services so that anyone can find information anywhere in the state. 2-1-1 also uses a telephone interpretation for callers who do not speak English, as well as TDD/TYY for hearing impaired callers.
 For more information on Washington State 2-1-1 , visit http://www.WA211.org
 How is 2-1-1 implemented in King County? Crisis Clinic’s Community Information Line has been recognized and funded by United Way, King County and the majority of cities as King County’s comprehensive information and referral service for more than 35 years and has been designated as King County’s 2-1-1 provider. Currently, the Community Information Line handles over 86,000 calls from people needing tangible resources. With the advent of 2-1-1, those calls have increased to over 115,000 annually.
How did 2-1-1 come into being?
It was a joint effort of the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) and United Way of America. They petitioned the FCC to allocate this prefix for this use. With the bipartisan support of legislators, the FCC authorized this prefix for use in July 2000. Over 198 million Americans, in 38 states, have access to 2-1-1. This service has developed so quickly because it is built upon the hundreds of existing information and referral providers, such as Crisis Clinic, who have been providing this service using a traditional dialing code.
Why should the private sector care about 2-1-1? Businesses are also committed to quality of life in their communities. Early employee access to effective services helps to reduce absenteeism and increase retention. For example, a father, who is a small business employee, loses the mother of his children to cancer. He seeks and gets good childcare and grief counseling by calling 2‑1‑1 that refers him to the specific agency that can help him. He is able to keep his job, and has higher morale and performance because
he knows his children are safe. 2-1-1 is also a resource for human resource professionals, if they need suggestions for agencies that can help their employees during difficult times.
Why should 2-1-1 be a priority? Isn’t it a duplication of services that already exist?
2-1-1 offers a direct and tangible service that every citizen can use. It is an easy-to-remember number you can call to either “get help” or to “give help’. People who need to access a community service often make 10-12 calls before reaching the right agency. With a call to 2-1-1 they can be connected to the correct agency almost immediately. 2-1-1 is also used to provide information on how to volunteer or make donations of goods to appropriate agencies. Human service agencies get hundreds of calls from people they can’t serve, which is a waste of their resources. Also, prominent agencies such as Salvation Army or Red Cross get many calls because people know their name and they are often overwhelmed by those calls. If people call 2-1-1, we can direct them to the smaller agencies, in their own communities, that are more likely to help them. So, 2-1-1 helps distribute “the needs” of a community to a broader array of agencies. Also, in times of local disasters or public safety issues, communities have used 2-1-1 to be the public information “hotline” during relief and recovery. During the Florida and Katrina hurricanes, 2-1-1 was used extensively to provide information on shelter, food and other resources and to respond to people’s desire to help. This frees 9-1-1 and the Red Cross to focus on the public safety response. Some communities are integrating 2-1-1 into their Emergency Operations
and Public Safety departments. Links to other sites and info. National 2-1-1 - www.211.org Washington 2-1-1 - www.WA211.org North Sound 2-1-1 - www.VOAWW.org/211 King County 2-1-1 - www.211KingCounty.org Greater Columbia 2-1-1 - www.pfp.org/211/ United Way of King County - http://www.uwkc.org/211 United Way of America - http://www.UnitedWay.org/211
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(This Page was last updated on Friday January 22, 2010 at
11:53 AM ) | 
