1460:
881:
895:
47:
822:
Certified
Information and Referral Specialists for Aging (CIRS-A) and Certified Resource Specialists (CRS) annually. Inform USA standards have been created to provide a benchmark for 211 centers and its staff. The standards regulate nationally how a 211 centers provides services and how they collect and store information.
849:
Work is underway to create a bilingual, Canadian
Taxonomy of human services based on the AIRS/Infoline Taxonomy. This project is led by InformCanada and significant steps have been made on the creation of a starter taxonomy by the 211 Ontario phase 2 project, funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation
858:
The number 211 must be captured and approved for assigning through the local telecom companies providing services in the local area. The process of implementing a 211 service in a community has taken many paths since its beginning in 1997. Some places have a centralized statewide system while others
825:
INFOLINE of Los
Angeles, an information and referral services agency serving the greater Los Angeles area, developed a national taxonomy of human services that provides a standard language for information and referral providers nationally. AIRS adopted this taxonomy as its national standard for use
190:
As of 2017, close to 95% of the population in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and
Washington, D.C.) has access to 211 services. More than two-hundred agencies, including United Ways, provide 211 services. The largest population without access to 211 was the metro-Chicago area up until January 2023.
821:
The
American accrediting body for 211 centers is Inform USA, formerly the Alliance of Information & Referral Systems (AIRS). Inform USA provides an accreditation process for 211 centers and certifies 211 Call Center Representatives as Certified Information and Referral Specialists (CIRS),
337:
Many 211 centers are exploring
Memorandums of Understanding with state and federal governments to facilitate the efficient handling of future disasters. Television or radio stations could easily tell citizens to call 211 in the event of an emergency. Call specialists at these centers would be
807:
to occur and the dialer's telephone line would "go dead" for several minutes afterward. These codes must first be "recovered" by moving the test functions elsewhere (958 and 959 are standard reserved local and long-distance test exchanges in most areas) to permit redeployment as local public
379:
As of May 2017, the service is available in all 50 states and
Washington, D.C., and 95% of the U.S. population has access to 211 services by dialing 211 on a landline or cell phone. In 2017, the 211 network answered close to 15 million requests for assistance by phone, text, and chat.
173:
in partnership with the
Alliance of Information and Referral Systems, or AIRS (renamed Inform USA in July 2023) – AIRS operates as a charitable organization, providing information and referral services for nonprofit and government sectors. On July 20, 2000, the
186:
area, 211 is also the number to call for elderly and disabled people needing evacuation assistance in the event of a pending disaster such as a hurricane. The role of libraries in information and referral including 211 has been considered with a case study in
Mississippi,
333:
locally. Referrals are often given from databases accessed by call specialists. These databases are maintained by 211 staff following stringent data management guidelines. The databases are typically local but in some cases linked together to form statewide databases.
162:(AT&T), direct distance dialing (DDD) using the area code and the local number was introduced starting in 1951, eventually eliminating the use of the prefix. After that, the local telephone providers designated "00" for long-distance operator access.
157:
Before the introduction of direct long-distance dialing, the long-distance operator was reached by dialing 211 for placing a long-distance call. When the states in the US and provinces in Canada were assigned area codes in 1947 by the
328:
to callers on where to obtain assistance from local and national social service programs, local and national governmental agencies and local and national non-profit organizations as well as where to volunteer or make a
829:
Accredited 211 centers must have active
Memorandums of Understanding with local 9-1-1 service as well as domestic violence providers, elder care providers, mental health providers and local law enforcement.
826:
in the field of information and referral. This taxonomy provides standard definition of terms, an exact coding structure for referrals and search methodology for providing referrals to consumers.
203:(CRTC) approved the use of 211 throughout Canada on August 9, 2001. The first Canadian 211 service opened in Toronto on June 13, 2002. 211 services are free of charge and multilingual in Canada.
354:
region, 211 centers were instrumental in coordinating with local government officials and providing information to communities before and after local disasters. Furthermore, 211 providers in
69:
862:
In the United States, each implementation is monitored by the national accrediting entity Alliance of Information & Referral Systems (AIRS) and its local statewide affiliate.
1131:
1109:
388:
In Canada, 211 is available in the following places (starting dates in parentheses). This list may be out-of-date; 211 service coverage is generally expanding over time.
866:
200:
206:
As of October 2020, the whole of Canada, including the territories, has had access to 2–1-1 thanks to a nationwide expansion, following the COVID-19 pandemic.
320:
Where available, 211 is operated by a private non-profit community-service organization, local government or local United Ways, which are part of the broader
154:) used 211 as an automated credit request number for disconnected or misdialed calls. This service was in service from the 1970s through the early 2000s.
1299:
1191:
1027:
962:
338:
informed of current disaster plans or places to receive help and could then inform the public of the correct course of action. After Hurricanes
165:
In 1986, the United Way of San Diego created its INFO LINE in partnership with the County and City of San Diego. The United Way of Metropolitan
122:(NANP) as an easy-to-remember three-digit code to reach information and referral services to health, human, and social service organizations.
445:
1139:
159:
1329:
1101:
1493:
269:
191:
In 2017, the 211 network in the U.S. answered close to 15 million requests for assistance through phone, text, and web chat.
1391:
781:
698:
1278:"Welcome to the New Inform USA Website - Inform USA (Formerly AIRS, the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems)"
617:
175:
95:
1049:
1446:
928:
785:
737:, but had a set time limit on how long those funds would be available. On November 26, 2007, the City of Windsor's
693:
545:
539:
126:
681:
503:
992:
551:
1291:
1195:
569:
119:
581:
527:
1277:
954:
497:
1013:
McCook, Kathleen (2000). "Service Integration and Libraries: Will 2-1-1 Be the Catalyst for Renewal?"
1105:
886:
593:
485:
1225:
274:
77:
73:
57:
1255:
209:
In Canada, 211 offers free and confidential information and referral for all non emergency needs.
169:
introduced a 211 service in 1997. Many states began implementation plans soon after, aided by the
1384:
1079:
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and the government of Canada. Updates on the Canadian Taxonomy Project are maintained by 211.ca.
439:
65:
1421:
1416:
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563:
236:
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509:
479:
285:
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17:
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843:
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35:
8:
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were called upon to provide assistance to individuals fleeing Puerto Rico's devastation.
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112:
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178:(FCC) approved 211 for nationwide use as a short number in the United States along with
1483:
1377:
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Plans to introduce 211 services are also in development in other Canadian communities.
433:
305:
231:
183:
147:
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In Canada, the deployment of 211 service is subject to InformCanada accreditation and
1464:
521:
913:
769:
761:
722:
704:
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456:
339:
115:
918:
900:
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730:
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533:
473:
347:
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for telephone installers testing individual lines. In the Canadian province of
587:
515:
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299:
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450:
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have decentralized regional networks with different types of affiliations.
773:
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264:
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to refer callers to organizations that provide services in such areas as:
1041:
804:
757:
605:
359:
842:. The national 211 initiative is a partnership between InformCanada and
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and regional districts, with plans to expand the services provincially.
923:
351:
760:'s province-wide 211 deployment will be fully operational in 2014. In
984:
260:
30:"2-1-1" and "Area code 211" redirect here. For the country code, see
745:
began, and was being run by the United Way (who also runs the local
733:
311,000 to start it up, with much of the money being donated by the
1400:
664:
330:
279:
130:
76:
external links, and converting useful links where appropriate into
838:
In Canada, professional certification is handled by InformCanada
753:
658:
611:
363:
166:
151:
1042:"United Way Storm Recovery | United Way of Greater Houston"
557:
1028:"211 Social Service Connector Now Available for Metro Chicago"
1441:
1436:
1431:
1426:
1364:
839:
746:
179:
31:
1369:
467:
1102:"Social services just a phone call away with launch of 211"
867:
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
423:
218:
201:
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
795:
In some communities, unused X-1-1 codes were assigned as
1192:"Where to Turn: Ontario 211 helpline goes province-wide"
738:
1247:
675:
409:
1359:
765:
652:
395:
1217:
876:
725:, intended to have a 211 service up by 2009, as the
1071:
182:for transportation. In Texas, particularly in the
1161:
803:, for instance, when 211 was dialed, it caused a
60:may not follow Knowledge's policies or guidelines
1475:
1385:
133:of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP).
1292:"3-Digit Numbers in New York State · 411 NY"
741:announced that 211 service for Windsor and
310:Telephone reassurance, care for the elderly
27:Telephone number accessing health care info
1392:
1378:
853:
96:Learn how and when to remove this message
1365:AIRS/Infoline Taxonomy of Human Services
350:in Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico, and the
160:American Telephone and Telegraph Company
1332:from the original on September 20, 2018
1015:Reference & User Services Quarterly
955:"Welcome to the New Inform USA Website"
844:United Way of Canada – Centraide Canada
840:InformCanada – Fédération Inform Canada
756:extended 211 province-wide in 2012 and
14:
1476:
1302:from the original on December 21, 2016
995:from the original on September 6, 2023
952:
324:network. 211 provides information and
1373:
1360:211 Information & Referral Search
721:has reported on March 20, 2003, that
217:211 center hours vary. Many are open
1138:. September 18, 2008. Archived from
965:from the original on August 17, 2023
40:
1112:from the original on April 27, 2018
764:, 211 services are administered by
699:Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
24:
816:
374:
25:
1505:
1348:
1258:from the original on July 1, 2016
1172:from the original on June 4, 2019
1082:from the original on May 18, 2018
1052:from the original on May 18, 2018
929:988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
401:province-wide (February 11, 2013)
176:Federal Communications Commission
1458:
1228:from the original on May 8, 2013
893:
879:
811:
786:Sunshine Coast Regional District
694:Sunshine Coast Regional District
415:province-wide (October 15, 2020)
141:
45:
1314:
1284:
1270:
1240:
1210:
1184:
682:Fraser Valley Regional District
369:
1154:
1132:"2-1-1 info line set to start"
1124:
1094:
1064:
1034:
1020:
1007:
977:
953:Appold, Katie (July 1, 2023).
946:
644:province-wide (September 2013)
127:emergency telephone number 911
13:
1:
1494:Three-digit telephone numbers
1399:
939:
120:North American Numbering Plan
212:
7:
1322:"Canadian Taxonomy Project"
1162:"Help Starts Here - 211.ca"
872:
833:
528:Lennox and Addington County
440:Chaudière-Appalaches Region
383:
10:
1510:
136:
129:, 211 is one of the eight
29:
1455:
1407:
1326:Canadian Taxonomy Project
1106:CTV News Channel (Canada)
887:Telecommunications portal
434:Capitale-Nationale Region
194:
1046:www.unitedwayhouston.org
259:Emergency food, such as
1166:United Way 211 National
985:"Inform USA - About Us"
313:Volunteer opportunities
854:Implementation process
768:, and is available on
253:Donation opportunities
34:. For other uses, see
1465:Telephones portal
1355:FCC fact sheet on 211
808:information numbers.
727:Provincial Government
552:Northumberland County
171:United Way of America
801:Prince Edward Island
735:United Way of Canada
560:(September 19, 2008)
322:United Way Worldwide
275:Financial assistance
66:improve this article
36:211 (disambiguation)
582:Peterborough County
78:footnote references
1142:on August 21, 2009
1108:. April 26, 2018.
797:plant test numbers
428:211 Québec régions
424:211 Grand Montréal
306:Suicide prevention
290:Parenting programs
232:Affordable housing
148:New York Telephone
1471:
1470:
1218:"211 Nova Scotia"
869:(CRTC) approval.
782:Squamish-Lillooet
498:Haliburton County
410:211 New Brunswick
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98:
16:(Redirected from
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1198:on July 30, 2012
1194:. Archived from
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1030:(Press release).
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914:Fighting poverty
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762:British Columbia
723:Windsor, Ontario
711:(September 2017)
705:Vancouver Island
672:British Columbia
596:(September 2009)
594:Sault Ste. Marie
566:(September 2010)
540:Muskoka District
518:(September 2009)
500:(September 2009)
486:Frontenac County
476:(September 2010)
457:Greater Montreal
446:La Haute-Yamaska
146:For many years,
118:reserved in the
116:telephone number
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778:Metro Vancouver
688:Metro Vancouver
630:(November 2007)
618:Waterloo Region
608:(February 2008)
602:(November 2005)
590:(February 2011)
548:(November 2005)
542:(November 2008)
494:(February 2009)
482:(February 2009)
474:Algoma District
396:211 Nova Scotia
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249:Disaster relief
245:Debt counseling
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150:(now a unit of
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1336:September 5,
1334:. Retrieved
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1304:. Retrieved
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1230:. Retrieved
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1200:. Retrieved
1196:the original
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1176:September 5,
1174:. Retrieved
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1144:. Retrieved
1140:the original
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999:September 5,
997:. Retrieved
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969:September 5,
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776:and in the
758:Nova Scotia
653:211 Alberta
614:(June 2002)
606:Thunder Bay
584:(June 2009)
578:(June 2010)
570:Peel Region
530:(June 2010)
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512:(June 2010)
492:Grey County
488:(June 2010)
468:211 Ontario
392:Nova Scotia
360:Connecticut
237:Alzheimer's
113:abbreviated
1489:Geriatrics
1478:Categories
940:References
924:Speed dial
749:service).
729:allocated
620:(May 2011)
572:(May 2008)
554:(May 2009)
352:Gulf Coast
296:counseling
261:food banks
242:Child care
239:assistance
228:counseling
1484:N11 codes
1401:N11 codes
1248:"bc211 -"
1116:April 26,
1072:"211.org"
256:Education
226:Addiction
213:Operation
131:N11 codes
125:Like the
70:excessive
1330:Archived
1300:Archived
1256:Archived
1226:Archived
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1080:Archived
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873:See also
665:Edmonton
522:Kingston
331:donation
326:referral
302:programs
282:services
280:Homeless
1262:May 31,
1232:May 20,
1202:May 20,
1086:May 18,
1076:211.org
1056:May 18,
754:Ontario
739:website
659:Calgary
649:Alberta
624:Windsor
612:Toronto
464:Ontario
364:Florida
167:Atlanta
152:Verizon
137:History
64:Please
56:use of
834:Canada
667:(2004)
661:(2005)
558:Ottawa
534:London
506:(2007)
420:Quebec
384:Canada
362:, and
346:, and
340:Harvey
195:Canada
1252:bc211
933:9-8-8
766:bc211
747:3-1-1
676:bc211
348:Maria
180:5-1-1
18:2-1-1
1338:2019
1308:2019
1264:2016
1234:2013
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1178:2019
1148:2008
1118:2018
1088:2018
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1001:2023
971:2023
788:and
715:The
426:and
344:Irma
263:and
219:24/7
199:The
32:+211
1447:911
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