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Two things you can do to help bring 2-1-1 to the nation:
- Contact Your Members of Congress
- Contact Your Governor
The Calling for 2-1-1 Act (S 211 / HR 896), lead by Senators Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), and Richard Burr (R-NC), and Representatives Michael Bilirakis (R-FL-9) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA-14), enjoys broad bi-partisan support and would authorize $150 million to assist states with implementing and sustaining 2-1-1 statewide. States would have to provide a 50 percent match to the grant, which could come from current 2-1-1 funding in the community, such as United Way funding, funding through other non-profits, state and local government, foundations and businesses. Funding would be administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Act closed the 108th Congress with 182 bi-partisan congressional cosponsors.
What does the Calling for 2-1-1 Act do?
The bill authorizes $150 million for years one and two, and $100 million for years three through five through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help implement and sustain 2-1-1 nationwide. States would designate, if they have not already, a lead entity for 2-1-1 which would develop a statewide plan for implementation and administration of the funds. States would be required to provide a 50% match in order to draw down the federal dollars.
Why $150 million in federal funding?
The University of Texas at Austin抯 cost/benefit analysis estimates that operating a decentralized nationwide 2-1-1 system (the model that describes the current system) costs approximately $285 million. These operating expenses do not include costs to launch 2-1-1 centers, which are estimated at $50 million for the next two years. Over time, we hope to move the nationwide 2-1-1 system to a hybrid model, which would significantly reduce operating costs.
Why is a 50% match required?
2-1-1 is most effective when built on solid public/private partnerships and with a diverse and sustainable funding base. The federal investment will be leveraged in states with a minimum of 50% of program funding from state and local government and private sources such as corporate, foundation, and United Way dollars. This is a 1:1, dollar-for-dollar match.
How is 2-1-1 currently funded?
Currently, 2-1-1 is funded through local and state sources including local United Ways and other nonprofits, foundations, businesses, and state and local government. The federal funding authorized in the Calling for 2-1-1 Act will supplement, not replace those funding streams.
Why will funding be administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services?
HHS has years of experience in administering information and referral services for human needs. There are over 964,000 nonprofit organizations in the United States plus scores of government agencies. People looking for assistance have trouble navigating a complicated web of health and human service programs.
In a report following the events of September 11th, the General Accounting Office highlights the need a more efficient service delivery system:
While charitable organizations took immediate steps to get aid to those in need, families and victims generally believed that they had to navigate a maze of service providers and confusion existed about the range of services available to people, particularly those facing job or housing losses. (GAO-03-259 Report)
Who will administer the funds at the local level?
If no state or public utility commission-designated entity for 2-1-1 exists, the state will establish a collaborative of existing 2-1-1 planning bodies, community and faith-based organizations, information and referral providers, foundations, and businesses to create a statewide plan and to administer the funds. If the state or public utility commission has already assigned a lead for 2-1-1, that will become the lead entity, but will have to work collaboratively with the groups listed above.
Are there standards for being a 2-1-1 call center?
Grant recipients must abide by the Key Standards for 2-1-1 Centers, as established by the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS). The standards are available online. A summary of the standards is included in the press packet.
Why is a statewide plan necessary?
A statewide plan will ensure that 2-1-1 is implemented in each state in a coordinated and cost-effective manner and that there is equitable geographic distribution of the funds and coverage of rural areas.
What can the federal funding be used for?
The federal funding can be used for a variety of 2-1-1 related purposes, including but not limited to planning for and implementing 2-1-1, operating costs, technology upgrades, public awareness, training, and evaluation.
Are there financial benefits to 2-1-1?
A national cost benefit analysis conducted by the University of Texas estimates a net value to society of a national 2𢴏 system approaching $130 million in the first year alone and a conservative estimate of $1.1 billion over ten years. Savings include time saved, tax assistance and recovery, volunteer recruitment, 24/7 service, a reduction in the number of 1-800 numbers, and a reduction in non-emergency calls to 9-1-1.
The research found that the viability of maintaining and expanding a standards-based, national 2-1-1 information and referral network is dependent on the infusion of additional funds.
The study also determined that the national 2-1-1 effort is ripe for enhanced public/private sector collaboration as the entities, which operate the 2-1-1 call centers, and the public agencies, which administer the vast majority of health and human services resources, recognize the complementary features of their service delivery systems.
Finally, 93% of the users surveyed by the University of Texas indicated they found the information they sought with ease, and 97% said they would call 2-1-1 again.
There is evidence that investing in 2-1-1 will result in long-term cost savings. The University of Nebraska's Public Policy Center estimates that a fully realized 2-1-1 system in Nebraska will bring $7.4 million in benefits to the state of Nebraska with a population of 1.7 million.
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