Celebrating 211 Awareness Week

211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast is a local nonprofit organization that provides free and confidential crisis intervention information, assessment and referrals to community services. Now in its 40th year, 211 is the starting point for individuals who don’t know where to turn for information or answers to the problems they are facing. Last year, 150,000 telephone calls were received from people in need of support services.

In order to help increase public awareness about the multitude of services available around the clock by dialing 2-1-1, 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast as well as county and local governments have designated February 11-17 as 211 Awareness Week.

211 provides professionally trained staff and volunteers who are available to discuss issues such as depression, suicide, alcohol and drug abuse, child care, financial programs, domestic violence, housing and so much more. In addition to handling crisis related calls, 211 provides current information on community health and human services programs.

Other services include:

• Sunshine Telephone Reassurance program - daily phone calls to check on frail or home-bound seniors
• Elder Crisis Outreach – provides intensive, short-term assistance to seniors in crisis
• Health Navigation – connects callers to health services
• Teen Website – offers an online chat forum that is free, nonjudgmental and confidential
• Food Reference Guide – provides locations for soup kitchens, food pantries and food co-ops

Examples of the types of calls received at 211 are:

• Parents struggling with out-of-control kids
• Adult children concerned about their aging parents
• Elderly adults trying to retain their independence
• Depressed individuals trying to keep their lives together
• Young children who are alone or afraid
• Teens struggling with adolescence
• Financially disadvantaged individuals and families on the verge of being evicted or having their electricity or water shut off

211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast relies heavily on volunteers and is always in need of individuals who would like to make a difference. For more information on services and volunteering, visit www.211palmbeach.org. There is also a free, downloadable IPhone app allowing users quick and easy access to the 211 database.