2-1-1 VIRGINIA
2-1-1 VIRGINIA is one of two statewide 2-1-1’s in the nation with multiple centers tied seamlessly
together through Internet-based software and phone systems.
2-1-1 VIRGINIA began February 11, 2006, built on a
system of Information and Referral dating back to the 1960’s. The Commonwealth of Virginia has been
a supporter of the system, writing it into the Code of Virginia in 1984. Virginia was the first in the
nation to implement an interconnected statewide Information & Referral system.
The Virginia Alliance of Information & Referral Systems (VAIRS) spearheaded the 2-1-1 effort
in the Commonwealth. 2-1-1
VIRGINIA is a great example of a public-private partnership. Operated through the Virginia Department of Social
Services, there are five call centers in private, non-profit agencies:
Southwest
Center:
Council of Community Services (Roanoke)
Northwest Center: Family Resource & Referral (Staunton)
Southeast Center: The Planning Council (Norfolk)
Central Center: United Way of Central Virginia (Lynchburg)
Greater Richmond/Southside
Center:
United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg (Richmond)
Facts about 2-1-1 Virginia
·
There are more than
8,000 agencies and close to 19,000 programs in the database, making 2-1-1 VIRGINIA one of the largest health and human services
databases in the state.
- Easy to
remember, 3-digit phone number that connects residents to a trained Community Resource Specialist 7 days a week,
24 hours a day
- The 2-1-1 VIRGINIA database is
available online at 211virginia.org.
- 2-1-1
VIRGINIA adheres to national standards developed by the Alliance of Information & Referral Systems (AIRS)
- 2-1-1 reduces the need for costly 1-800 numbers and non-emergency 9-1-1 calls.
- 2-1-1 VIRGINIA Community Resource Specialists are certified by AIRS and meet
its national standards
- Specialists have expertise in helping
callers by identifying individual needs
- When a caller needs
help navigating the system, specialists advocate for them
- Serves multi-lingual
callers through multi-lingual 2-1-1 Specialists as well an interpreter service that supports 200 languages
- Follow-ups are conducted to evaluate access to needed services
- Connects volunteers and donors to opportunities in the community
- Statewide resource database adheres to national AIRS standards
- Resource Specialists responsible for the database are also AIRS certified
- Identifies community needs and trends that can aid in community planning
Payday Loans
For more information, contact:
2-1-1
VIRGINIA Coordinator
Council of Community Services
PO Box 598
Roanoke, VA 24004
(540) 339-9149E-mail: barbp@councilofcommunityservices.org
2-1-1 National Coverage
2-1-1 now covers 86.6% of the nation with every state at least partially
covered. More than 16.7 million calls were received in 2011. To search for 2-1-1 providers
throughout the U.S., please visit www.211.org