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Getting free information about child care, housing, transportation and other services is as easy as dialing 2-1-1. That’s the toll-free telephone number of 2-1-1 Texas, United Way's 24-hour information and referral service.

This confidential and nationally-accredited service is staffed by highly-trained information and referral specialists dedicated to connecting you to the most appropriate community organizations and government agencies in Erath, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Tarrant and Wise counties.

Just as 9-1-1 became an easy way to reach emergency medical, police and fire services, 2-1-1 is revolutionizing the way people get information about available non-emergency services. (This service also can be reached by dialing  817-258-8100.)  

The information specialists assess callers' needs and refer them to community services such as 

  • Caregiver Support
  • Child Care
  • Financial Assistance
  • Food
  • Health Services
  • Housing
  • In-Home Services
  • Legal Assistance
  • Transportation

Tarrant County United Way is one of the Area Information Centers that make up the 2-1-1 Texas network now serving all Texas counties. 2-1-1 Texas is a program of United Way in collaboration with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
2-1-1 '07 Annual Report
 

2007: A Record Year

United Way's 2-1-1
information and referral service
logged almost 154,000 calls
in 2007 alone.
 
2-1-1 Provides the Calm in the Eye of the Hurricane

You could hear the concern in their voices: “I need transportation to escape the hurricane that’s coming. Can you help me?” “My grandmother was evacuated. Can you find her?” “I’m driving north on I-45 with my two kids, and I’m running out of money. Is there a shelter nearby?” “Is it safe to go home?”

The questions came from across Texas, but each found its way to United Way’s 2-1-1 information and referral service in Arlington, where hurricanes hundreds of miles away produced a whirlwind of activity. Our local 2-1-1 service received more than 19,400 hurricane-related calls from July through October. About 14,500 of those calls were related to Hurricane Ike alone.

While all of the 2-1-1 centers that blanket Texas respond during weather crises, United Way's 2-1-1 service is one of only three centers that ramp up to handle the surge of calls for assistance that occurs day and night. Hurricanes Dolly, Gustav and Ike prompted United Way to supplement its eleven 2-1-1 information and referral specialists with 140 other people, including other United Way employees, family members and staff from United Way community partners. Together they helped callers find a relative, a way out, a place to sleep or just peace of mind.

The Texas Information and Referral Network at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission provided the 2-1-1 team with constantly-updated information relevant to each storm.
 

 

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