Testimonials
On my way home I needed to pick up some items and dashed in a liquor store and about half way through I found myself crying! A homeless man asked me what the problem was and I said, “They are going to pull the plug on my dad tomorrow and I can’t even contact the doctor to talk to him about it!” The homeless man, said “Oh, you need to call 211, they will help you.”
And I said “They can’t possibly help me with this.” The homeless man said “Oh yes, they help with just about everything!” So the next morning I called 211 and someone on the line said they would help me. He called somewhere on my behalf with me and right after that the doctor called and we made a plan for my dad to recover…he is 81 years old now, in a wheelchair, but I have my dad… and I have 211 to thank.
Newsroom 2-1-1 In the News Why Dial 211?
Why Dial 211?
Danville Patch
May 20, 2011
By Erika Conner
It's a toll-free number answered 24 hours a day and a three-digit number that can provide you with a lot of answers.
In Contra Costa County, 2-1-1 is a free, non-emergency, confidential phone number and service that provides easy access to critical health and human services.
You can call 211 toll-free, 24 hours a day, and be connected to a trained multilingual specialist who can help with a multitude of questions.
According to the 211 website, information includes:
- Basic Human Needs Resources: food banks, clothing closets, shelters, rent 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 Supports: financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, education programs
- Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities: adult day care, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, home health care, transportation, homemaker services
- Support for Children, Youth and Families: childcare, after-school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services
- Volunteer Opportunities and Donations
The operators at 211 have access to a database with information on government and nonprofit agencies that represent specialized services.
The 211 in Contra Costa County is part of 2-1-1 California, which links 27 counties and has a goal of serving the entire state in the near future.
In addition to providing information on food, shelter, job placement and an array of health-care programs, 211 in Contra Costa County serves as a crucial public information system during a crisis such as an earthquake, tsunami or fire.