211Info

Core 211info services: 211info addresses community determinants of health by linking consumers with the programs that promote health, resiliency and improved childhood outcomes in Oregon and southwest Washington: food, shelter, affordable housing, parenting resources, health care, dental, mental health, crisis services, foreclosure prevention programs, employment, legal aid, school readiness, clothing, maternal and child health, and related programs. 211info provides a detailed, updated and unbiased database of records from 3,000 health and social service organizations, including nonprofit, government and faith-based assistance. For consumers, the service is free, confidential and live, with a team of certified community information specialists providing referrals, collecting demographic data and asking "the second question," which may lead people to a program they didn't realize was available. For instance, someone seeking help with their electric bill may not realize they may qualify for job training. 211info's services are provided by telephone, text, email, website and mobile app, and partner agencies' programs and events are publicized through social media. Outreach staff and community information specialists help to educate clients and partner agencies about the network of services available in their communities. Data analytics help community leaders assess social service needs, demographic patterns and site-specific trends.

211info's coordination center helps people navigate community resources, provides follow up to clients, and documents outcomes by partnering with ccos, health care systems and related organizations. This results in a "closed loop referral system" for consumer and healthcare providers. In addition to a core focus on health and social services 211info provides services to other organizations, generally on a contract basis, with quick-response staffing, data reporting and technical expertise. 211info is listed in the Oregon procurement information network. Examples of these contracts include a 24/7 foster parent support hotline, and a pesticide exposure hotline for the Oregon department of agriculture.

Specialty programs: in addition to comprehensive information and referral, a statewide database of records from 2,574 organizations, outreach and data reporting, 211info provides specialty programs that offer a deeper level of education, advocacy and subject-area expertise. Emergency reponse: the agency serves as a triage point for public inquiry during local and statewide disaster response, using faqs and scripts that convey authoritative messaging. Utilizing our contact center and robust social media communications, 211info provides reliable and accessible information during rapidly changing conditions. Specialty programs: 211info provides expertise in areas including coordinated entry into housing/shelter; maternal and child health; food resources; and supports for low-income people who must travel to access breast cancer treatment. Some examples of this work include:- as part of the coordinated entry system for multnomah county's homeless families system of care, 211info provides a single point of contact for programs that support families experiencing homelessness, including a 24/7 contact center, shelter referrals, transportation options, and data entry to input family information into the homeless management information system used by all participating agencies. 211info specialists coordinate meetings between families and county housing team members; specialists also manage waitlists for housing placement. These programs include doing screenings for homeless veterans.- working with the Oregon health authority, 211info provides expert staff and reports on women and children's access to health care, food, sexual and reproductive health care, pregnancy supports, and immunizations.- 211info's parent educators offer child development information and referrals to child care, parenting supports, early assessment, special education, trauma-informed treatment programs and related programs. Families contacting 211info are informed about state tanf and erdc programs.

Other contract services that focus on health and social services.