Press Room: Case Studies
50 Ways 2-1-1 Works Across America
Compiled by United Way of
Pennsylvania, July 2004
Reprinted and revised with permission
Displaying 1-10 of 50
- Laid-Off Workers: 2-1-1 provides one easy-to-remember number for any kind of health or human service need. In a study by the Brookings Institution, researchers reviewed the experience of hotel workers in Washington, D.C.—where 2-1-1 was not yet available—who were laid off after the September 11th attacks. They found that even when social service agencies were doing a good job making housing, food, and other assistance available, displaced workers couldn't figure out how to get help, unlike their counterparts in Connecticut, where 2-1-1 was already operating. Pat Atkins, a researcher from George Washington University, noted that 2-1-1 “enables people to get assistance before they decide to give up.”
- Disease Epidemic: 2-1-1 helps people during epidemics, as it did for the residents of Toronto, Canada during the SARS outbreak. During that crisis, many people needed to know how to get groceries while quarantined. 2-1-1 will be used to provide information on West Nile virus and such potential threats as anthrax and smallpox.
- Flu Shots: 2-1-1 provides easy access to information about how to get flu shots and, where needed, how to pay for them. This year, complete information about the flu shot shortage is available in Palm Beach County, Florida by calling 2-1-1.
- Evacuation Routes: 2-1-1 can provide information about emergency shelters and evacuation routes during natural and man-made disasters.
- MediCal, SCHIP, etc: 2-1-1 provides basic information and connections to state-provided income and insurance benefits such as the Children's Health Insurance Program. In Florida, United Way 2-1-1 of Jacksonville has a partnership with the State Agency for Health Care Administration to pilot a strategy that uses 2-1-1 as the entry point for Medici's, Kidcare and other state benefits.
- Crime Victims: 2-1-1 provides both crime victims and the law enforcement officials with whom they come into contact with information on services and benefits for victims of crime.
- Travelers' Aid: 2-1-1 can help people who are stranded. In Atlanta, thousands of people were stranded at Hartsfield International Airport for several days after the September 11th terrorist attacks. According to Dan Williams, a former national 2-1-1 coordinator, “Not only did people call looking for rooms, we had people calling 2-1-1 offering rooms in their homes for people who were stranded.” In all, hundreds of people received temporary housing.
- ESL Help: 2-1-1 helps non-English speaking people get comprehensive health, disaster, and human service information. During the SARS outbreak in Toronto, 2-1-1 was able to serve the local Mandarin Chinese-speaking population in their own language. In addition to the large Spanish-speaking population in this country, many pockets of other non-English speaking people exist in nearly every community.
- Reliable, Comprehensive Human Services Database: 2-1-1 provides a comprehensive, continuously updated human service web-based database for everyone, including social workers, doctors, and others trying to help people. In Connecticut, at least 15% of calls to 2-1-1 are from helping professionals and legislators looking for information to help someone other than themselves. San Diego's database is also available in print and on the 2-1-1 website.
- Community Response to Economic Emergencies: 2-1-1 helps communities hit by industry shutdown. 2-1-1 was the critical community connection for residents of Atlanta who were unemployed by the sudden decline of the airline industry in the aftermath of September 11th.