211. Get Connected. Get Answers

With the success of 411 for directory assistance and 911 for emergencies, United Ways across America are initiating 2-1-1.

Locally, 2-1-1 was officially launched in mid November, 2005. The first 2-1-1 call was made by Burns Hargis, United Way of Central Oklahoma Board Chairman, from the Senior Summit at the Clarion Meridian Convention Center to Howard Hendrick, DHS, at the 2-1-1 call center at HeartLine. Over 100 onlookers were present as the first 2-1-1 call was dialed.

Every hour of every day, someone in Oklahoma needs essential services – from finding an after-school program to securing care for an aging parent.  In many cases, people go without services because they don’t know where to find them.  A coalition of local service providers including United Way of Central Oklahoma, HeartLine, American Red Cross, OASIS, Oklahoma County, City of Oklahoma City, and ACOG/9-1-1 have led the effort to bring 2-1-1 to our community.

Dialing 2-1-1 will help people access local social services such as finding food, housing, counseling or utility bill assistance. "The idea is to create a single phone line nationally that people can call for help in getting social services," says Brian Gallagher, president of United Way of America, who is spearheading the effort. The nation's first 2-1-1 was created in 1997 in metropolitan Atlanta.

2-1-1 currently serves approximately 139 million Americans, about 46% of the U.S. population. Central Oklahoma is proud to bring this vital service to our residents.