211 Turns Two 

Release Date: August 14, 2007
Release Number: BRI-01-07

Vermont's 2-1-1 health and human services helpline recently celebrated its 2nd anniversary with a significant change in operations: service is now available around the clock. Vermont 2-1-1 was launched in February of 2005 to help people with health and human services needs connect with private, local, state and national agencies that help meet those needs.

Vermont 2-1-1 is an important partner with Vermont Emergency Management. During times of crisis 2-1-1 acts as the agency's public inquiry hotline, answering questions from the public about shelters, recovery efforts, and other vital information. The service provides VEM with a critical tool to coordinate its response.

2-1-1's resource database contains detailed information about the services of over 600 agencies. 2-1-1 call specialists provide referrals on issues ranging from adult education and affordable housing to legal counseling and veterans services.

"In 2006, we logged 8,346 calls, an increase of 68 percent over 2005," 2-1-1 Director Mary Ellen Mendl says. "And we have just expanded our service to be available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. We analyze the calls and find that solving basic needs is our leading category - people seeking help with food, housing, finances, material goods and transportation."

Four members of the 2-1-1 staff have recently become Certified Information and Referral Specialists and one a Certified Resource Specialist by the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems, a professional organization. Vermont 2-1-1 calls are directed to a single statewide information and referral center. Resource staff members are setup in different regions of the State to ensure that the 2-1-1 database contains accurate information about services in local communities.

Vermont 2-1-1 is a free and confidential service available to everyone in Vermont by dialing 2-1-1, a local call from anywhere in Vermont. Online visitors can search the 2-1-1 database and will also find a link to AHS 'Screen Door', a service that helps match individuals with government services for which they might qualify.

On the Web: http://www.vermont211.org

Last Modified: Tuesday, 14-Aug-2007 15:36:00