Press Room: Press Release
2-1-1 San Bernardino County Launch Sept. 20
Rancho Cucamonga (September 6, 2006) – Government
officials and local businesses will gather at the Inland Empire
United Way to celebrate the launch of 2-1-1 San Bernardino
County from 3 – 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 20. The 2-1-1
information and referral service will soon be available 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week by dialing the 3-digit calling code: 2-1-1.
Located at 9624 Hermosa Ave. in Rancho Cucamonga, the new call
center connects people to health and social services in the
area.
The 2-1-1 launch event in the new call center begins with an open house and includes a presentation at 5 p.m. with featured speakers Second District Supervisor Paul Biane from the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and Assemblywoman Gloria Negrete McLeod from the 61st Assembly District. Tours of the facility will take place during the open house, and a light meal will be provided.
“Who do you call when the service or help you are looking for is not in the phone book?” asks Gary Madden, United Way’s 2-1-1 Director. “The 2-1-1 line becomes the fastest way for anyone to connect to available resources. This not only benefits the public, but the police, sheriffs, fire department personnel, schools, libraries, business human resource departments, and city and county staff.
“I don’t think most people are aware of the extent to which housing costs have put pressure on working families,” Madden states. “Out of 1,197 calls in July, 605 were for basic needs, families trying to keep their homes or apartments, pay their utilities or put food on the table. And those callers had a total of 928 children living in their homes.”
The 2-1-1 service has been implemented in 32 states across 169 centers in the U.S. 2-1-1 offers information and referrals for non-emergency help and can accommodate more than 150 languages. The service also improves public safety, acting as a hub for information and volunteerism during crisis or disaster. The County of San Bernardino and the Children and Families Commission for San Bernardino (First 5) have joined in providing funding for the Inland Empire United Way service.
2-1-1 is a toll-free number that connects people from anywhere in San Bernardino County to a 24-hour service that provides information and referrals for health and social services in their area. Inland Empire United Way (IEUW) is the designated 2-1-1 service provider for the San Bernardino County. IEUW is a community partner that develops collaborations with nonprofits in an effort to streamline service delivery, leverage available resources, maximize contributions, and eliminate service duplication in the IEUW’s service area, which covers regions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties.
For more information, call Gary Madden at (909) 980-2857, Ext. 211.