Assembly Committee Hears 2-1-1 Successes
At the invitation of Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg
(D- Bergen), representatives from the NJ 2-1-1 Partnership testified before
the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee on the success of efforts
to establish 2-1-1 as a statewide helpline. Fran Palm, Executive Director
of Morris County's First Call for Help, and Jeanne Cassano, Executive
Director of Hunterdon Helpline spoke of efforts to establish 2-1-1 as
an easy to remember number dedicated to community life. Testified, Ms.
Palm, "2-1-1 gives callers quick linkage to get help or give help
in the same way that 411 and 911 are universally recognized." Added,
Ms. Cassano, "We are breaking down the barriers between those who
need help and those who can help them."
In her testimony before the committee, Ms. Palm reported
that there are currently three pilot 2-1-1 Call Centers operational. They
are serving Camden, Hunterdon, and Morris and Passaic Counties. The centers
have experienced a 20% increase in requests for information and assistance
since switching over their helplines from local numbers to 2-1-1. Plans
are underway to expand to ten additional counties in January and to the
remainder of the state by 2005. The NJ 2-1-1 Partnership has been given
the authority to implement and oversee 2-1-1 statewide by the New Jersey
Board of Public Utilities.
Testified Jeanne Cassano, "There is a demonstrated
need for an easy to remember and easy to use number. People often don't
know who to contact or where to turn to get the help needed to solve their
problem. Whether it is information on child care, legal services, housing,
immigration, employment, your nearest health center, or services in a
language other than English, dialing 2-1-1 can get you the answers to
these questions and more 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
The need for implementation of 2-1-1 statewide was also discussed in relation
to the lessons learned after September 11th. 2-1-1 can compliment 9-1-1
as a repository for information on all disaster efforts. Explained Ms.
Palm, "the tragedy of 9/11 showed us more than ever how important
it is for members of a community to know where to call for help or to
volunteer in the wake of a disaster. It makes it easier for those in need
to find the right services and for potential volunteers to get connected
with organizations that need help."
About NJ 2-1-1
The NJ 2-1-1 Partnership is a broad coalition of health and human services
organizations. Collaborators also include Verizon New Jersey, AT&T
Communications, MCI, WVT Communications and Sprint Communications. Spearheaded
by the United Way and the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems,
2-1-1 is an easy to remember telephone number that connects people with
important community services and volunteer opportunities. 2-1-1 builds
the state's capacity to strengthen the way people access help and engage
in civic life. Today, 2-1-1 reaches approximately 50 million Americans
in about 18 percent of the U.S. population. The goal of the NJ 2-1-1 Partnership
is to ensure that residents of New Jersey have access to quality community
information and referral services through 2-1-1 by 2005.
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