United Way 2-1-1 keeps families strong by connecting them to services
2-1-1 is an easy to remember telephone number that connects people with important community social & human services. United Way of Central Florida spearheaded the implementation of 2-1-1 for Polk County as a way to provide comprehensive and specialized information and referrals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Every hour of every day, someone in the United States needs essential services - from finding an after-school program to securing adequate care for a child or an aging parent. Faced with a dramatic increase in the number of agencies and help-lines, people often don't know where to turn. In many cases, people end up going without these necessary services because they do not know where to start.
Dialing 2-1-1 connects callers to a information specialist (se habla espanol), who provides referrals to human services for every day needs and in times of crisis. For example, by dialing 2-1-1 callers can access the following types of services:
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Basic Human Needs Resource: food banks, clothing closets, shelters, rent assistance, utility assistance.
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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.
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Employment Supports: financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, education programs.
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Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities: adult day care, congregate meals, home-delivered meals, respite care, home health care, transportation, homemaker services.
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Support for Children, Youth and Families: childcare, after school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services.
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Donations.
United Way of Central Florida is currently going through the 2-1-1 certification process.
