2-1-1

What is 2-1-1?
United Way’s 2-1-1 is an easy to remember three-digit
telephone number that can be used to access community
resources available to Greater Stark County. By simply
dialing 2-1-1*, residents of Stark County can reach the
Information and Referral (I & R) offi ce and be directed
to programs, health and human service agencies and
volunteer opportunities. The service is free, confi dential
and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What is I & R?
Information and Referral is the community link between
people in need of health and human services assistance
and the appropriate providers of such services. I & R
Specialists in Stark County help link thousands of callers
with services each year.
I & R Specialists assess caller’s needs and determine
the service provider best equipped to handle their
problem or crises. Additionally, I & R Specialists are
trained to determine whether a caller may be eligible
for other services in the community. United Way’s 2-1-1
maintains a comprehensive database of resources,
including federal, state and local government agencies,
community–based organizations, private non-profi ts
and volunteer opportunities.

What type of services does 2-1-1 provide?
Knowing that you need help is one thing…finding
someone who can help you is another. United Way’s
2-1-1 can link you to resources such as family counseling,
senior services, rent and utility assistance, health
related services, support groups and parenting
resource information. United Way’s 2-1-1 also provides
information about volunteer opportunities available in
the community.

What happens when I call 2-1-1?
United Way’s 2-1-1 is designed to provide you with
information and referrals using an extensive database
of community resources. When you call 2-1-1, you will
be connected with a trained United Way Information and
Referral Specialist who will ask you to answer a variety of
questions so that they can determine which community
services may be available to address your needs.

Benefi ts of 2-1-1:

• 2-1-1 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• 2-1-1 allows callers who are senior citizens,
teens and adults of all ages to access telephone
services that formerly required the caller to dial a
seven-digit number.
• 2-1-1 eliminates confusion about who to call and
where to go when you need help – 2-1-1 is an
easy to remember three-digit number to access
information and/or linkage to health and human
service agencies.
• 2-1-1 eliminates complicated searches through
phone books and thousands of misdirected
phone calls trying to fi nd the right social service
agency to meet the callers’ needs.
• 2-1-1 provides our most vulnerable residents,
those who are elderly, disabled, illiterate, new to
the community, etc. easy access to services that
can meet their needs.
• 2-1-1 can help direct some non-emergency, nonpolice
related calls that are related to a caller’s
need for heath and human services away from
the area’s emergency 9-1-1 lines. It is estimated
that in many communities as much as 70% of
the calls to 9-1-1 are for non-emergency related
matters and often tie up the lines designated to handle police and fire rescue emergencies.

*Not available on all cellular phones. Call 330-491-9997.

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