United Way and Missouri Foundation for Health
Bring 2-1-1 Phone Helpline to Missouri
Since 2007, the United Way of St. Francois County has partnered with other United Ways in Missouri to offer help to Missourians through 2-1-1. The 2-1-1 call center, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week is being offered throughout Missouri by the United Way of Greater St. Louis, with funding from Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) and in conjunction with United Way organizations throughout the state.
Residents may dial 2-1-1 for free and confidential help about health and human services close to home.
For technical reasons, all 2-1-1 service is currently limited to landline telephone services. Mobile phone users as well as those waiting for 2-1-1 in their area can make the same one-call connection by dialing 1-800-427-4626. Calls through some business phone systems also may need to use this alternative approach.
The 2-1-1 call specialists can help people find health and human service assistance on everything from food and shelter to job counseling services, health resources, times of crisis as well as everyday needs. 2-1-1 offers easy access to community-based organizations and government agencies that provide services such as:
• Basic human needs resource: food banks, clothing, shelters
• Mental and physical health resources: medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention, rehabilitation, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health, children’s health insurance programs.
• Employment support: financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, education programs, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) filing assistance.
• Support for older adults, people with disabilities: home health care, adult day care, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, transportation, homemaker services.
• Support for Children, Youth and Families: quality childcare, Success by 6, after school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services.
• Volunteer/donor opportunities
• Help in non-emergency situations
People also can call 2-1-1 if they want to volunteer support or donate help to agencies.
The 2-1-1 Call Center is located at the United Way of Greater St. Louis, with data collection hubs in Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Springfield and St. Louis. Data hubs focus on updating records about health, health-related and social services to ensure that callers are always receiving up-to-date information.
The 10 Missouri United Ways joining the United Ay of St. Francous County in the 2-1-1 program are: United Way of Greater St. Louis United Way of Central Missouri, United Way of the Ozarks, United Way of Southeast Missouri, United Way of Adair County, Columbia Area United Way, United Way of the Mark Twain Area, Callaway County United Way, Carthage Area United Way, and the United Way of Southwest Missouri.
