Nevada 2-1-1 Celebrates Four Years of Helping Nevadans

Feb. 16, 2010 – On February 11, Nevada 2-1-1 celebrated four years of helping the community through their health and human services help line. Since its inception in Feb. 2006, more than 260,000 people have benefited from this service that connects callers with essential information and referrals.

“United Way is proud to support a service that can assist the community by providing vital information to those in need,” said Dan Goulet, United Way of Southern Nevada President and CEO. “Especially given the current state of the economy this can be an important service to those in the community who need to access important information for their survival.”

Nevada 2-1-1 makes an impact in local communities by connecting people with free information, important services and volunteer opportunities. It’s a vital service that helps people find and give help. Assistance is also available at nevada211.org. Translation services in more than 150 languages are available.

The mission of 2-1-1 is to provide Nevada citizens access to the following types of services:

• Basic Human Services: food banks, clothing closets, shelters, rent assistance, and utility assistance.
• Physical and Mental Health Resources: health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health, Children’s Health Insurance Program, medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention, and rehabilitation.
• Employment Support Services: financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, and education programs.
• Support for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities: adult day care, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, home health care, transportation, and homemaker services.
• Programs for Children, Youth and Families: childcare, after school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, and protective services.
• Volunteer Opportunities and Donations
• Support for Community Crisis or Disaster Recovery: 2-1-1 systems in other states have proven valuable in disaster relief efforts in other communities. Nevada 2-1-1’s capabilities in this area will be developed as funding allows.

The Nevada 2-1-1 is a statewide coalition of United Way of Southern Nevada, United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra, Crisis Call Center, HELP of Southern Nevada and the State of Nevada along with other non-profit and private businesses.

About 2-1-1

Spearheaded nationally by United Way of America and the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS), 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember telephone number that connects callers with important community services and volunteer opportunities. 2-1-1 builds America’s capacity to strengthen the way people access help and engage in civic life. In July 2000, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established 2-1-1 as the nationwide number for non-emergency information and referrals. Currently, 2-1-1 is serving 65 percent of the United States population. Each state is responsible for planning and operating its own 2-1-1 system.