Always on Call: 2-1-1 Mid-York is Open on Sunday and Everyday, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
No matter the time of day or night – parents, seniors, veterans, caregivers, or anyone in need of assistance can dial 2-1-1 and be directed to the resources they need. February 11 is 2-1-1 Day, a reminder that help is just a phone call away, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Since 2015, 2-1-1 has been available to all residents of New York, in all 62 counties and in communities large and small, rural, and urban. Individuals seeking help for themselves or a friend or family member as well as professionals seeking to address the needs of their clients can find answers by calling 2-1-1 or visiting the 2-1-1 website.
In NYS the 2-1-1 resource databases contain information on 69,000 programs and services located in 29,000 agencies and organizations. With about 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the United States plus hundreds of government agencies, finding health and human services help can be confusing and intimidating. 2-1-1 makes it easy; it is the single, easy‐to‐remember phone number for people looking for health and human services information.
In 2017, 2-1-1 Resource Specialists across NYS responded to 1,968,370 calls and 842 text-based inquiries in NYS. The top categories of need were: Legal/consumer services/public safety; Housing; Income support and assistance; Healthcare; Education; Mental health and addictions. The 2-1-1 websites recorded 18,572,150 visits – that’s more than 20 million 2-1-1 contacts in 2017 alone.
2-1-1 Mid-York is an initiative of United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area. The Call Center is staffed by trained Resource Specialists who connect callers in Madison, Oneida, and Herkimer Counties’ to critical resources. 2-1-1 Mid-York is free, confidential, and interpretation services are available as needed.
Last year, 2-1-1 Mid-York handled more than 3,200 calls for assistance and 4,380 service referrals, according to Betty-Joan Beaudry, United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area’s Director of Community Impact and 2-1-1.
Many calls come from people in search of help to meet their basic needs, such as heating and utility assistance, or to find the closest food bank, but 2-1-1 also handles calls for many other kinds of assistance. For example, people contact 2-1-1 to find out where to take their child for developmental screening, to locate job training programs in their area, or to find free tax filing support.
Over 5,900 others connected to 2-1-1 Mid-York’s searchable online database directly by using www.211midyork.org.
"Without 2-1-1, research shows callers may make between 4 to 14 phone calls to find the right number to call to begin to get help with their situation," Ms. Beaudry said. "2-1-1 reduces frustration for Madison, Oneida, and Herkimer County residents, getting them connected with the resources they need, quickly. It also saves time and money for providers who handle fewer misdirected calls."
2-1-1 call centers also serve as communication hubs that provide critical information and access to basic needs and services before, during, and after emergency situations. 2-1-1 capably responds to non-emergency calls during an emergency or a disaster freeing 9-1-1 from those calls so that system can focus on emergencies. Commonly needed assistance – food, shelter, cleanup assistance, etc. – can be addressed by 2-1-1, which also has the ability to “staff-up” as needed during the disaster. Heavy snowfalls, flooding, hurricanes, tornados – 2-1-1 in NYS have responded to them all.
United Ways have been long-standing supporters and the national leaders of the 2-1-1 movement in partnership with AIRS (Alliance of Information and Referral Services). As the largest private funder of the 2-1-1 networks nationwide, United Ways continue to strengthen and support 2-1-1 as another way to build stronger communities and create opportunities for all.
Life’s challenges rarely leave anyone out – whether a need for child care, an elderly parent requiring services, a sibling seeking to escape an abusive relationship, a child not knowing where his/her next meal will come from, a neighbor’s child in battling substance abuse, a friend or loved one in need of health insurance and not knowing where to begin, a job loss and a need for re-training – 2-1-1 is there to help navigate the maze of helping agencies and find those most suited to your circumstances.
For assistance or for more information call 2-1-1 (844–342–5211) 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit www.211MidYork.org
Click here to read "A Day in the Life of 2-1-1"
