One of the biggest roadblocks to people getting help for basic services is the bewildering maze of phone numbers available for a variety of health and human services.
If a person is in need of assistance, which one is the correct one? Often, people call 911 when they are not sure which way to turn. For many of these people, 211 is a better resource, though it is important to remember that 211 is not intended to replace 911 for potential life and property threatening situations, according to a Kent Fire Department Regional Fire Authority media release.
The 211 service, which is available in King County, is spearheaded nationally by United Way and the Alliance for Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) and is intended to provide all residents with access to essential services.
In King County, the 211 program’s parent agency is the Crisis Clinic (crisisclinic.org) and is funded by United Way of King County, City of Seattle, King County Veterans and Human Services Levy, Washington State, WIN211, and a variety of cities including Covington, Kent, and SeaTac.
Some of the services that can be reached by dialing 211:
• Food/clothing banks
• Addiction support
• Suicide prevention
• Assistance for aging parents
• Physical and mental health resources
• Work support and job training
• Legal/financial assistance
When a person calls 211, they talk to an information and referral specialist who is an expert in understanding the eligibility requirements of local human service systems. They can coach callers on the best way to present their situation to the appropriate agency.
They can also problem-solve with the caller when services are not available. There are more than 5,000 services and 1,500 agencies listed with King County 211. These services are available in several different languages. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Background: In July, 2000, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reserved the 211 dialing code for community information and referral services. Over 90 percent of the U.S. population can reach their local number. The service started in 2006 in King County.
For more on the 211 system, go to 211kingcounty.org.
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