211 can be reached by phone, either cell or land-based, anytime 24/7.  211 can also be reached by chatting through our website, www.211helps.org or emailing 211@unitedwaystl.org.

211 provides individuals needing assistance or agency case workers with information about and referrals to human services for every day and urgent needs. For example, 211 can offer access to the following types of services:

• Basic human needs resource: food banks, clothing, shelters
• Physical and mental 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 crisis situation

211 also provides support to agencies needing to find assistance with their clients through specialized training on the database and a call queue set up specifically for agencies.  211 provides data to agencies, funders and decision makers on community needs and community resources.

211 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days per year.

211 covers 99 counties in the state of Missouri and 9 counties in Southwest Illinois.  In partnership with the Kansas City 211, the entire state of Missouri is covered by a 211 system.  The counties covered by 211 in Southwest Illinois are Calhoun, Clinton, Greene, Jersey, Madison, Macoupin, Monroe, Randolph and St. Clair.

Yes, most major cell phone carriers have set 211 as a dialing code for their cell phones.  We are currently working with the remaining carriers to provide access to all cell phones.  If your cell phone does not have the 211 dialing code, you can call 1-800-427-4626 to reach 211.

Many offices do not allow what are called N-1-1 calls from their phones. Since 211 is a free number to call, ask your administrators if they will allow 211 in your phone system. Otherwise, please call 1-800-427-4626 or visit us online at www.211helps.org.

A 211 program enables residents to have better access to needed health and human services.  Many people aren’t sure who to call for assistance when they have a problem.  With one call to 211, a person can be assured they are being referred to the correct agency or organization in their area to deal with their specific problem or concern.

A trained specialist will determine the area from which the person is calling and what services are needed, and then provide contact and program information for all available services in the person’s community.

No, residents should continue to call local emergency numbers for situations such as medical emergencies, fires and police assistance.  211 can potentially relieve the 9-1-1 system from dealing with non-emergency situations, which sometimes slow down response times in dealing with real emergencies.  211 does not replace 9-1-1 or other community emergency access numbers.

211 can connect people to 9-1-1 if needed, but 9-1-1 is likely to redirect callers to dial 211 if appropriate. It’s important to remember to call 9-1-1 in emergency situations, not 211.

211 staff at the four data hubs around the state are responsible for continually updating information about various community services, to ensure access telephone numbers, contact names, lists of services offered and other relevant information is current. The hubs are located in Cape Girardeau, Jefferson City, St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri.

The database must be updated according to AIRS’ Standards, which requires that each resource be verified every year.

No, information has been gathered about non-profit, government and faith-based health and human services organizations in each Missouri and Southwest Illinois community, and made available to residents through 211.

In 2014, 2-1-1 Missouri/Southwest Illinois took 165,000+ calls.

Call specialists are trained using a curriculum developed by AIRS, the Alliance of Information & Referral Systems, which leads to professional certification.  This curriculum is supplemented by training specific to Missouri resources.

Please see all employment opportunities by visiting the careers page on HelpingPeople.org. 

At this time there is no State funding for 211.  211 is funded by the United Way of Greater St. Louis with some funding from other United Ways in the state of Missouri.

211 is a product of United Way.  We are in close contact with the United Ways across the state encouraging them to utilize 211 in their campaigns and to the benefit of their clients.  Several United Ways directly support 211 with financial funding or sharing office space and supplies in their local United Way.

Generally, no. Each local telephone exchange is linked to a particular 211 call center.  However, each 211 also has a 10-digit or 800 telephone number; if someone calls seeking resources in an area outside of the local 211, the caller is provided with the telephone number of the closest 211 or information and referral service to the area in which they seek services.  For example, if someone calls 211 Missouri seeking resources in San Diego, CA, they will be provided with the regular number for the 211 service in San Diego.

211 is designed to link callers with the best source of information and will work in partnership with organizations with specialized expertise or information. For example, a caller seeking child care resources might be linked to the Child Care Resource & Referral (CCRR) agency serving their county.