Tennessee 211

2-1-1 In the News

The Mountain Press (Sevierville)
October 07, 2005

211 connects callers to community resources

By: JOEL DAVIS, Staff Writer

SEVIERVILLE - Finding help just got a little easier for Sevier County residents.

County government and the United Way are partnering with a Knoxville-based nonprofit agency to provide a central telephone referral service for the agencies and governmental services in the area.

The number 2-1-1 connects callers to information about health and human services available in Sevier County. Dialing the number will connect callers with a trained counselor, who will direct them to the appropriate local agency.

"It's a free, easily accessible way to access community resources," said Gary Young, treasurer of the 2-1-1 board. "If you're having difficult keeping your power on ... or buying food ... it would be an easy number to connect to nonprofits. When people start looking for housing, assistance, transportation, they call 211."

The service is needed, County Mayor Larry Waters said.

"It's certainly a service that will help the citizens of the county to be aware of who they need to contact for help in various ways," he said. "It's going to be a good service."

The service is available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are plans to expand the hours to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in November, Young said.

The $5,000 cost to fund the service through the rest of the year is being split between the Sevier County United Way and Sevier County government. Next year, the cost will be $13,000, United Way Executive Director Roy Marshall said.

"The hurricane relief effort made it evident we needed a service like this," he said. "This is a perfect opportunity for us to have community impact in a big way."

Based in Knoxville, the nonprofit 2-1-1 agency contracts with a Nashville call bank to provide the service. The counselors access information about local services through a computer database.

Dialing 2-1-1 is a convenient way for county residents to find help, Young said.

"We are blessed with an abundance of nonprofits and resources, but people have trouble contacting them," he said. "They don't have to know the number for United Way or the Red Cross or the local power company, they just need to remember 2-1-1 and that counselor will help them get connected."

The service is anonymous. All callers are identified only by zip code.

* jwdavis@themountainpress.com

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	2-1-1 In the News The Mountain Press (Sevierville) October 07, 2005 211 connects callers to community resources By: JOEL DAVIS, Staff Writer SEVIERVILLE - Finding help just got a little easier for Sevier County residents. County government and the United Way are partnering with a Knoxville-based nonprofit agency to provide a central telephone referral service for the agencies and governmental services in the area. The number 2-1-1 connects callers to information about health and human services available in Sevier County. Dialing the number will connect callers with a trained counselor, who will direct them to the appropriate local agency. "It's a free, easily accessible way to access community resources," said Gary Young, treasurer of the 2-1-1 board. "If you're having difficult keeping your power on ... or buying food ... it would be an easy number to connect to nonprofits. When people start looking for housing, assistance, transportation, they call 211." The service is needed, County Mayor Larry Waters said. "It's certainly a service that will help the citizens of the county to be aware of who they need to contact for help in various ways," he said. "It's going to be a good service." The service is available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are plans to expand the hours to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in November, Young said. The $5,000 cost to fund the service through the rest of the year is being split between the Sevier County United Way and Sevier County government. Next year, the cost will be $13,000, United Way Executive Director Roy Marshall said. "The hurricane relief effort made it evident we needed a service like this," he said. "This is a perfect opportunity for us to have community impact in a big way." Based in Knoxville, the nonprofit 2-1-1 agency contracts with a Nashville call bank to provide the service. The counselors access information about local services through a computer database. Dialing 2-1-1 is a convenient way for county residents to find help, Young said. "We are blessed with an abundance of nonprofits and resources, but people have trouble contacting them," he said. "They don't have to know the number for United Way or the Red Cross or the local power company, they just need to remember 2-1-1 and that counselor will help them get connected." The service is anonymous. All callers are identified only by zip code. * jwdavis@themountainpress.com top