What is Washington 2-1-1?
2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember phone number for people to call for health and human service information and referrals to help meet their needs. It provides quick access to health and human services, encourages prevention, and fosters self-sufficiency. It also helps people learn about where to volunteer or contribute to a charity in their community.
How did Washington 2-1-1 begin?
The first 2-1-1 service started at the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta in 1997. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted 2-1-1 dialing code for community information and referral nationwide in 2000. As of July 2008, 2-1-1 serves over 232 million Americans (more than 77% of the entire population) through 244 active 2-1-1 systems covering all or part of 47 states (including 28 states with 90%+ coverage) plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico. The remaining states are all in various stages of planning and implementation. Every few weeks, these coverage numbers increase.
Who Provides Service for My Area?
South Sound 2-1-1 is operated by United Way of Pierce County and provides information and referrals to those residing in the Thurston County area. Call them Toll Free at 800-572-4357.