Press Room: Press Release
Supervisor Paul Biane made the first official phone call on the
2-1-1 system last night
San Bernardino County, CA (September 21, 2006) – Second
District Supervisor Paul Biane from the San Bernardino County
Board of Supervisors made the first official phone call on the
2-1-1 San Bernardino County system last night. Biane attended
the 2-1-1 launch and open house September 20, 2006 at the Inland
Empire United Way.
After a short proclamation from Assemblywoman Gloria Negrete
McLeod from the 61st Assembly District gave, Biane dialed 2-1-1
from a cell phone and connected with a 2-1-1 call specialist in
the new 2-1-1 call center. The 2-1-1 launch and open house also
featured tours of the new 2-1-1 call center and other Inland
Empire United Way initiatives.
The 2-1-1 information and referral service is now available in
San Bernardino County, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. By dialing
the 3-digit calling code, 2-1-1, the caller is connected to a
live, bilingual call specialist who will help assess the
caller’s situation and provide information and referrals for
health and social services in their area. This service is free
and confidential.
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. Inland
Empire United Way is the designated service provider for 2-1-1
San Bernardino County. The County of San Bernardino and First 5
San Bernardino provide major funding for the United Way service.
It was also announced that Bank of America will renew its
funding for a second year.
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.