211

211

Rep. Boozman's Column for the Week of May 3, 2004

Have you ever wanted to volunteer at your local soup kitchen, but didn't know who to call? Have you recently relocated and are having trouble finding child-care? Do you have a friend or family member who needs help fighting a chemical addiction? Then 211 may be for you.

Like 911 or 411, 211 is an easy to remember telephone number. Instead of providing emergency service or contact information, 211 connects people with important community services and volunteer opportunities. It was created in 1997 by the United Way to be a cost-effective way for people to navigate the complex and ever-growing maze of human service agencies and programs. Through this network, people would be able to easily find providers of health and human services they desperately need.

Specialists at 211 assess the needs of each caller and determine which services will handle their problem the best. They also determine other programs that may be useful to the caller. Many common services include financial assistance, food, protective services, legal assistance, childcare, utilities/heat, social support, housing and mental health.

Unfortunately, only 28% of the U.S. population has access to 211 services, with Connecticut and Hawaii as the only states in the country to offer statewide coverage. Some states, including Arkansas, have yet to launch 211 calling systems.

Recently, I toured the Crisis Intervention Center in Springdale and saw firsthand how this service could benefit the region. The Crisis Center operates hot lines for Arkansas callers experiencing a number of problems ranging from help with depression, rape trauma, financial trouble and other worries. The center also does violence prevention education and trains peer counselors in schools.

The Crisis Intervention Center is one of a number of non-profits in Arkansas that could better serve the public if 211 service was established in the state. 211 service would also ease the strain on 911 systems by taking non-emergency calls off of those lines. Some estimates say that up to 200,000 calls would be made in the first year of 211 service in Northwest Arkansas alone.

The need is there, but the funding is not. For this reason, I have cosponsored legislation that will provide grants to states setting up 211 systems. The "Calling for 211 Act" would implement 211 as a nationwide non-emergency number. It would offer an anonymous, easily accessible and easy to remember way of reaching out to those in desperate need of help, but who aren't sure where to turn.

Federal government involvement with 211 began as part of our efforts to combat bio-terrorism. By making 211 call centers eligible for federal grants, we expanded the reach of our nation's first responders and increased their ability to deal with a bio-terror attack.

The "Calling for 211 Act" would dramatically extend our efforts to make 211 a national system and bring the benefits of the system to Arkansas. 211 will help Arkansans in need and this bill will help our state lay the groundwork for the system. It is a worthy cause and one that I hope Congress addresses in the near future.