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Nevada 2-1-1 Celebrates Five Years of Helping Nevadans

On February 11, 2011, Nevada 2-1-1 celebrates five years of helping residents of Nevada through a statewide health and human services help line. Nevada 2-1-1 has grown every year since its inception in February 2006, responding to more than 75,000 telephone calls last year. Demand continues to grow because of the economic crisis, and is a life-line for more and more Nevadans.

“2-1-1 has played an important role over the last few years due to the rise in economic hardships,” said Mary Liveratti, deputy director of Nevada’s Department of Health and Human Services. “Helping relieve community members’ stress about not knowing where to turn for the help they need, 2-1-1 makes essential information easy to access.”

Nevada 2-1-1 makes an impact in local communities by connecting people with free information and links to important services and volunteer opportunities. It’s a vital service that helps people find and give help. Online assistance is also available at Nevada211.org. Translation services in more than 150 languages are available. Live operators are available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to midnight and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Nevada 2-1-1’s mission is to provide Nevadans with information on essential social services and referrals to local agencies. For example:

• Basic Human Services: food banks, clothing closets, shelters, rent assistance, and utility assistance.
• Physical and Mental Health Resources: 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 Support Services: financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, and education programs.
• Support for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities: adult day care, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, home health care, transportation, and homemaker services.
• Programs for Children, Youth and Families: childcare, after school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, and protective services.
• Volunteer Opportunities and Donations.
• Support for Community Crisis or Disaster Recovery: 2-1-1 systems in other states have proven valuable in disaster relief efforts in other communities. Nevada 2-1-1’s capabilities in this area will be developed as funding allows.

Nevada 2-1-1 is a statewide coalition of organizations including United Way of Southern Nevada, United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra, Crisis Call Center, HELP of Southern Nevada and the State of Nevada along with other non-profit and private businesses. 

About 2-1-1
Spearheaded nationally by United Way of America and the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS), 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember telephone number that connects callers with important community services and volunteer opportunities. 2-1-1 builds America’s capacity to strengthen the way people access help and engage in civic life. In July 2000, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established 2-1-1 as the nationwide number for non-emergency information and referrals. Currently, 2-1-1 is serving 82 percent of the United States population. Each state is responsible for planning and operating its own 2-1-1 system.

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