News | Article
from Highland Community News
2-1-1 for free information and
referral
(November 26, 2007) - San Bernardino County residents
with Verizon Wireless service can now dial 2-1-1 and connect to
Inland Empire United Way's free and confidential information and
referral service.
2-1-1 San Bernardino County provides information and referral
service 24 hours a day. By dialing the toll-free, 3-digit
calling code, residents will gain access to thousands of
important community services in San Bernardino County. Callers
are referred to the help they need in their area by bilingual,
trained call specialist.
Getting people the help they need in an efficient manner is
the goal of 2-1-1,” said Gary Madden, Inland Empire United Way's
2-1-1 Director. “Verizon Wireless is now helping the community
reach our service and accomplish our goal.”
2-1-1 service is free, but Verizon standard airtime charges
will apply. Other major cell phone providers including T-Mobile,
Sprint and AT&T have also programmed their system to connect to
2-1-1. Anyone who dials 2-1-1 and is not connected can dial
(888) 435-7565.
More than 40,000 calls have been received by 2-1-1 San
Bernardino County since the launch of providing service 24/7 in
September 2006. Nationally, 2-1-1 reaches approximately 196
million people (more than 65% of the U.S. population) in 41
states and the District of Columbia. 2-1-1 offers information
and referrals for non-emergency help, and it also improves
public safety, acting as a hub for information and volunteerism
during a disaster situation. 2-1-1 San Bernardino County is
funded in part by San Bernardino County and First 5 San
Bernardino.
Special note about office phones: 2-1-1 is an
important tool for Human Resources personnel, offering a single
point of contact for obtaining resource referrals for employee
issues that are outside normal business routines. Some
workplaces block “N11” calls like 411 because they charge
callers, but 2-1-1 is free. If your company has an internal
phone system, it may need to be programmed to recognize 2-1-1 as
a valid number. Your IT support person or the phone system
vendor will need to reprogram your company's phones. Contact
Inland Empire United Way's Cheryl Genung, Director of
Information Technology, at (909) 980-2857 ext. 253 with
questions.
Inland Empire United Way (IEUW): IEUW is the designated 2-1-1
service provider for San Bernardino County. Inland Empire United
Way helps disadvantaged kids succeed in school, provides easy
access to health and social services and develops volunteer
opportunities to create positive change.
Learn more at www.ieuw.org.
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