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Latest News For You | For Agency Professionals
More About 2-1-1 | 2-1-1
Fact Sheet | 2-1-1
Cost Savings
A National 2-1-1 System Will Make a World of Difference
2-1-1 Connects People-in-Need with the Programs and Services in their Community that Can Help
This easy-to-remember number saves time and frustration by eliminating the need for callers to navigate a maze of agencies and help-lines. When a person calls 2-1-1, specially trained staff analyze what services are needed, access a robust database of community non-profit and government agencies, programs, and services, and provide the appropriate referral.
On any given day 2-1-1 offers access to:
- Resources for Basic Human Needs: food banks, clothing, shelters, rent assistance, affordable housing, 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, after school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services...
- Volunteer opportunities and donations
2-1-1 Fosters Local and State Government Efficiency
At a time when state and local government resources are stretched to the breaking point, the cost-saving benefits of 2-1-1 can not be ignored.
- Costly toll-free numbers are eliminated. With one established number to call, the need for countless toll-free hotlines is greatly reduced.
- Agency staff time is focused on serving core clients. Studies have shown that most individuals average 14 calls in search of help, before they find the program or service that truly meets their needs. With 2-1-1 a person has only to make one call to receive the proper referral. This serves the person-in-need and also saves agencies from having to dedicate staff resources to routing misdirected calls – freeing agency personnel to focus on their core clients.
- Legislators can better serve their constituents. Access to 2-1-1 will enable legislative staff to quickly respond to constituent needs.
- In times of disaster, 2-1-1 provides a dependable, established back-up system that creates stability and fosters security. Whether the emergency is the result of natural conditions like storms or earthquakes, or one caused by a terrorist attack, 2-1-1 provides an established and easily accessible mode of communication where government can relay instructions and citizens can call for help.
- 2-1-1 offers the hub where communication takes place, ensuring two-way communication between people-in-need and those who are trying to help. Before 2-1-1 there was no centralized place where the expressed needs of people were tabulated, nor was there a cost-effective way to educate the public about existing government and community-based human services. 2-1-1 leads to more efficient use of state and local resources and improved service to individuals. In New Jersey, the 2-1-1 system is repeatedly relied upon by VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) members and government leaders. When floods ravaged communities in 2007 and again in 2010, NJ 2-1-1 created a Flood Recovery and Assistance Guide that was used by disaster victims and the professionals throughout the state who were assisting people in dire need of help.
2-1-1 Provides a Compassionate Nationwide Network of Support in Times of Crisis
Established 2-1-1 Call Centers provide back-up to Call Centers across the country in times of emergency or when disaster hits. Following the devastation that resulted from seven hurricanes in 2005, Palm Beach County, Florida approached NJ 2-1-1 to back-up their 2-1-1 system during hurricane season (June - November) from that time forward. It was agreed that in an emergency, 2-1-1 would handle call volume from Palm Beach and the four surrounding communities. Following Hurricane Wilma 4,000 calls were handled. In 2006, 2-1-1 handled call volume for 14 hours during Hurricane Ernesto.
Our established emergency action plan made this a smooth transition and Floridians received reliable information in their time of need. Smooth transitions like these are the result of protocols that have been established long before disaster hits. This kind of collaboration and back-up assistance is happening nationwide between established 2-1-1 Centers. For states with limited or no 2-1-1 service, citizens must go without.
A nationwide network of established 2-1-1 Centers would ensure that in times of emergency, citizens everywhere would have dependable access to 2-1-1 Centers where experienced resource specialists could step-in and take charge at a moment's notice providing critical and reliable emergency information and follow-up assistance that stabilizes communities as they recover.
Learn what you can do to support the development of a nationwide network of 2-1-1 Call Centers.
Need Help? – Dial 2-1-1
You are encouraged to dial "2-1-1" 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need help in understanding and finding available assistance services. Language translation and TTY services are offered to any caller. You can also search our database for services in your local community or Chat Live with an experienced community resource specialist. 2-1-1 will help identify with you the best local resources to fit your individual needs during times of distress or for life's everyday situations.
If you know of additional resources that would be appropriate to include in this section, please let us know by contacting us via e-mail at info@nj211.org.
Page last modified on 4.20.10
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