2-1-1 FACT SHEET

What is 2-1-1?

• 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember telephone number that connects people  with important health and human services program throughout the communities of Utah.
• 2-1-1 is a statewide program of Utah Food Bank Services.
• Easily accessed by any phone; calls are free and confidential.
• Multi-lingual/TTY/TTD; calls are accessible in 140 languages.
• Trained Information Specialists assess situations, make appropriate referrals and monitor the needs of our communities.
• As of March 2009, 2-1-1 serves over 234 million Americans (more than 78% of the entire population) covering all or part of 46 states (including 31 states with 90%+ coverage) plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico. The remaining states are all in various stages of planning and implementation. Every few weeks, these coverages numbers increase.
• 1,500 agencies and over 600 programs are currently listed in the Utah 2-1-1 resource database.

What types of questions can be answered by 2-1-1 Information Specialists?

• Basic Human Needs: food banks, clothing closets, shelters, rent and utility assistance
• Support for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities: adult day care, transportation, home health care, Meals on Wheels. Future plans will include for-profit licensed nursing homes, hospices, home health care and personal care organizations.
• Support for Children, Youth, and Families: childcare, after school programs, family resource centers,  mentoring
• Physical and Mental Health Resources: health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health, Children's Health Insurance Programs, crisis intervention services, medical information, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol interventions and rehabilitation
• Employment Supports: financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance and education programs
• Volunteer Opportunities

Sources of Information

• 2-1-1 information specialists are available from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Voice mail is available after hours and on the weekends.
• 2-1-1 resource information is available at www.utahcares.utah.gov. The online, searchable database is available 24 hours, 7 days a week.
• 2-1-1 Resource Lists are available for each county in the state. The lists are accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by visiting www.211ut.org.
• Human Service Directories that contain detailed information about agencies in respective areas are printed roughly every 2 years. In 2008 the directory serving Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele, Davis Counties was updated.

Reporting

• 2-1-1 answered more than 100,000 calls in FY 2009.
• 2-1-1 acts as a social barometer gauging the needs in our communities and the agencies serving those in need.
• The top needs of 2-1-1 callers are housing, healthcare and food.