What is 2-1-1?
Every hour of every day, someone in San Bernardino County searches for services, from substance abuse treatment to care for a child or aging parent. Nearly 1,000 community agencies provide more than 2,000 health and human service programs. Finding your way through this maze can seem insurmountable. Where do you start?
With 2-1-1, help starts with one little number.
“Counties across the state are grappling with serious financial concerns, and for any new project or service, they are interested in concepts with a proven track record of making a real difference in their community. With 2-1-1 available in 31 states and now six California counties, we can see the impact of successful 2-1-1 programs and the benefits of supporting a statewide network. Any time we can provide our residents with the information they need to improve their quality of life, we've provided a valuable public service.”
―James Keene, Executive Director, California State Association of Counties
2-1-1: Help starts here
Dial 2-1-1 for free, 24-hour community, health and social services information. Like 9-1-1 for emergency service, 2-1-1 has been set aside by the Federal Communications Commission for the public to easily access community information. Callers receive personalized information from a live call specialist. Call specialists can also help callers find out where to go to volunteer or donate to their favorite cause.
A community-wide service
Every corner of the community is touched by 2-1-1, from the businessperson who uses 2-1-1 to help an employee find drug treatment, to the family who calls 2-1-1 about financial scams against an elderly grandparent. Military families use 2-1-1 to contact their various service branch's family service hotlines. Law enforcement agencies see scarce resources freed up when inappropriate calls to 9-1-1 decline because the public has another easily-remembered number to call for non-emergency needs.
National three-digit number
Though only introduced in 1997, 2-1-1 dialing already reaches 192 million people in 41 states. Well over 65 percent of the country has access to 2-1-1. (For more information, see www.211.org.) In California, eight counties are currently operating 2-1-1 service. More than half of all Californians have 2-1-1 service available. Almost 2 million people were added when San Bernardino County joined that list in September 2006.
Online, by phone, or in print
2-1-1's powerful search engine is available online for people who want to search its service database themselves. Users will also be able to look up services in 2-1-1's published directory, Community Connection, or in our specialized publications. For those who dial 2-1-1 by phone, calls are answered by call specialists who are bilingual in Spanish and have access to other languages through a professional interpreters service.
Centralized disaster hotline
The October 2003 firestorm the need to establish a centralized information service like 2-1-1 in the San Bernardino County region; a need which was emphasized by the role that 2-1-1 played in responding to the Katrina disaster. Residents and public officials are painfully aware of the need to be better prepared for the next disaster. In times of disaster, 2-1-1 can be mobilized as a central point for disseminating public information. After the danger has passed, 2-1-1 helps victims secure recovery assistance.
Read more about 2-1-1 San Bernardino
Search for services
FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions)
Real people, real heroes
Three examples of 2-1-1 in action (click to play):
A
new home, a fresh start [video 1.6MB]
A
Big Brother for Joseph [video 1.3MB]
A
furnace for Mrs. Gilbe [video 1.3MB]
These video clips are used with permission from United Way of America
2-1-1 is making a difference in lives all around the country. Here are just a few of the ways 2-1-1 helps your neighbors every day: