2-1-1 is a telephone number that connects people with community services and volunteer opportunities. It provides a single access point for basic human needs assistance like food and shelter as well as physical/mental health resources and support for children, older adults, and people with disabilities. Calling 2-1-1 simplifies navigating the social services system. South Carolina currently has 3 2-1-1 call centers serving portions of the state. Expanding 2-1-1 statewide could cost over $5 million initially but provide long term benefits by streamlining access to assistance.

1. Where We Are:
The 411 on 211 in South Carolina
United Way Association of South Carolina

2. 2
What is 2-1-1?
2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember
telephone number that
connects people with important
community services and
volunteer opportunities.

3. 3
Why 211?
Finding help is incredibly difficult especially when
seeking basic services such as emergency food,
shelter, prescription assistance, etc. In addition to
lacking a clear “front door” to services, it is also
challenging to navigate the maze of social services.
The human services system is not only inefficient
and costly, but is confusing and time consuming for
consumers seeking to give or get help. It doesn’t
have to be this way.
A 2004 University of Texas at Austin cost-benefit
analysis of 2-1-1 estimates a net value to the USA
approaching $130 million in the first year alone,
and a conservative estimate of $1.1 billion over
ten years.
211 simplifies this system by providing information
after simply dialing three numbers—211.

4. 4
Why 211?
• One call gives you access to resources
across your community. 2-1-1 is efficient,
fast and easy to use by telephone or
internet
• No more wrong numbers; no more
wasted time trying to find the right
resources.
• 2-1-1 is a confidential call; most often the
name of the caller is not even taken.
• 2-1-1 maintains the integrity of the 9-1-1
system; saving that vital community
resource for life and death emergencies.
• 24-hour/7 day a week availability; 2-1-1 is
always there for you.
• 2-1-1 is an easy way to find or give help
in your community.
.

5. 5
Why 211?
• 2-1-1 strengthens your
community by uniting the people in
your area who want to help with
those who need help.
• 2-1-1 is a useful planning tool.
Based on aggregate data about
the types of calls that the 2-1-1
Center receives, communities are
in a better position to anticipate
demand for services and mobilize
resources to meet changing
needs.
• 2-1-1 touches the lives of every
person in the community, and
whether you are in a situation
where you need help or find
yourself later in a situation to give
help, 2-1-1 is always there for you.
.

6. 6
What Types of Resources Does 2-1-1
Track?
Basic Human Needs: food banks,
clothing closets, shelters, rent
assistance, utility assistance.
Physical and Mental Health: health
insurance programs, Medicaid and
Medicare, maternal health,
Children’s Health Insurance
Program, medical information lines,
crisis intervention services, support
groups, counseling, drug and
alcohol intervention and
rehabilitation.
Employment Supports: financial
assistance, job training,
transportation assistance, education
programs.

7. 7
What Types of Resources Does 2-1-1
Track?
Support for Older Americans and
Persons with Disabilities: adult day
care, congregate meals, Meals on
Wheels, respite care, home health
care, transportation, homemaker
services.
Support for Children, Youth and
Families: childcare, after school
programs, Head Start, family
resource centers, summer camps
and recreation programs, mentoring,
tutoring, protective services.
Volunteer Opportunities and
Donations.

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What Does 2-1-1 Do During a Crisis?
• 2-1-1 is a critical information system,
which is necessary prior to, during and
after a community crisis such as a terror
attack, public health emergency, flood,
fire, or other local or national tragedy.
• 2-1-1 responds immediately during
times of crisis, to field calls regarding
the crisis and to direct callers to
services most appropriate for their
needs.
• Once 2-1-1 is implemented, it
maintains a permanent presence in the
community. As a result, people can find
the help they need whether their needs
arise a week or several years after the
crisis event.

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What Does 2-1-1 Do During a Crisis?
Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,
FEMA issued a follow-up study making
a strong recommendation that states
should move forward on statewide 2-1-
1 implementation.
Following recent tornadoes in Kansas,
unusually severe snow storms in the
Midwest and Northeast, heat waves in
the Great Plains, wild fires in the West
and South, and a chemical spill in
Graniteville, South Carolina, the 2-1-1
system provided residents invaluable
information and connections to
important resources.
SC 2-1-1 will demonstrate a disaster
response scenario this summer for
DHEC, Emergency Management
Division and Budget and Control Board.

10. 10
South Carolina’s 2-1-1 Network
The South Carolina Budget and Control
Board is governing authority over the
South Carolina 211 Network.
• Each county may have a 2-1-1 Center.
• Must be accredited by the Alliance of
Information and Referral Services
(Three year phase-in. Currently
Midlands is accredited, the other
Centers have begun the process,
which may take 18 months.)
• Centers must share referral
information through a common
database.

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South Carolina’s 2-1-1 Network
• Each Center must have an automated
call distribution system to track, call
volume, number of abandoned calls,
average speed of answering, average
call length and other appropriate call
center statistics.
• Each Center must submit annual
report on its call volume, number of
abandoned calls, average speed of
answering, average call length,
information on inquirer needs, unmet
needs, and barriers to services.

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South Carolina’s 2-1-1 Network
Three Call Centers- serving over
20% of South Carolina’s population
making referrals to 75,000 callers
annually. Current budget: $950,000.
•2-1-1 Aiken Help Line- Serves Aiken
County (United Way Partner Agency)
•United Way 2-1-1 Midlands- Serves
Lexington, Richland and Newberry
Counties
•Trident United Way 2-1-1- Serves,
Charleston, Berkeley, and
Dorchester Counties

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Bringing 2-1-1 Home
Several Models are Possible
•County Call Center
•Stand alone (Aiken) or United Way
(Midlands, Trident)
•Local calls routed to one of the current 2-1-1
Centers
•Community-based hybrid
•Calls answered in local agency (United Way,
community partner or state/local government)
and evening/weekend calls routed to one of
the 2-1-1 Centers
•One we haven’t thought of….

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2-1-1 Costs For State United Way System
•United Way Association received a $240,000 infrastructure grant
from DHEC to network the 2-1-1 centers and build a database
(funding ends in July 2007)
•$2.1 million to serve all of South Carolina, including current
expenditures of $950,000 (80% local United Way funded), but if the
number of call centers in increased, costs could exceed $5 million
•Without enabling legislation, there is no funding mechanism for
State government to appropriate regular funding for 2-1-1, so the
Network is completely reliant on grant funding for expansion.

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2-1-1 Costs For State United Way System
2007-2008 Projected Network Costs
211 State Director $45,000
Payroll taxes $3,510
Fringe benefits $10,500
Software licensing $35,000
Database management $20,000
Other (incl. ACD, telecom charges, emergency
readiness) $50,000
Total $164,010

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2-1-1 Costs For Local Communities
Costs are variable depending on the model
•Single County Call Center
•highest cost
•Local calls routed to one of the current 2-1-1 Centers
•lower per call costs
•needs local resource coordinator (UW or agency)
•Community-based hybrid under authority of a current certified
center
•uses existing infrastructure (requires CIRS certification of
I&R specialist)
•builds on existing community knowledge
•lowest start-up and maintenance costs
•night and weekend calls go to supervising center

17. 2-1-1 Matters.
For all of South Carolina.