United Way of Trumbull County Recognizes 211 Day

WARREN, Ohio — Feb. 11 is also renown by some area nonprofits as national 211 day.

211 is an information and referral line that connects those with non-emergency needs to programs and services. Begun by the United Way in Atlanta in 2006, it has since expanded to every state.

Ginny Pasha, president of United Way of Trumbull County, says this day also represents 10 years of this important service being available to individuals and families in Trumbull County, thanks to funding provided by United Way of Trumbull County and the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board.

“Help Network Northeast Ohio provides the 211 services in Trumbull County and we are pleased to have Help Network Northeast Ohio as one of our partner agencies,” Pasha says. “United Way of Trumbull County funds 19 programs in Trumbull County and by having a one-call number for non-emergency help, people in Trumbull can find the services they need through all our partner agencies, as well as other resources in Trumbull County.”

The pandemic clearly illustrated the important role United Way partner agencies play in providing critical health and human services. The 211 information and referral line continues to be an important link to connect people to the services when they needed them.

For example, the United Way of Trumbull County used survey data and the data provided by Help Network to inform funding decisions on the distribution of COVID funds in both 2020 and 2021.

The data show that food and rent and mortgage assistance were the top two needs; however, the greatest increase in need has been for mental health services – a jump of 11% from the first survey as the impact of the pandemic began to take its toll.

According to data provided by Help Network, the 211 line in Trumbull County answered more than 22,000 calls during 2021 with the great majority of those calls being for information on mental health counseling.

The Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board relies on the knowledge and expertise of Help Network to assist families in crisis 24/7/365 days a year.

“Whenever we talk about how to get help in our community, we tell people to call 211,” said April Caraway, executive director of the Trumbull County Mental Health Board. “Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis like suicidal ideation, depression, and anxiety, or if they need detox or substance use treatment can call 211 to talk with a trained professional and get information about where to go for assistance.”

Vince Brancaccio, CEO of Help Network of Northeast Ohio, says its information and referral line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week by trained staff who have access to a database full of resources in the community.

“211 is an easy number to remember to access this information,” he says. “The agency is pleased to be a partner with Trumbull United Way and Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board and appreciates the ongoing support.”

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.