2-1-1 Now Designated as a National Number!

Rest of country to follow Connecticut's lead
Infoline

South Central Connecticut Office
419 Whalley Avenue
New Haven, Connecticut 06511
203/867-4157
Director: Kathleen Fish


Infoline provides help via the telephone - a single source for information about community services, referrals to human services, and crisis intervention.

Infoline was created in 1976 as a public/private partnership of United Way and the State of Connecticut. By the mid-80's, it had gained national recognition as a model system. Most recently, INFOLINE was awarded certification by the American Association of Suicidology.

Infoline operates out of five regional offices, enabling staff to develop close ties with all communities in the state. This local contact coupled with professional training results in knowledgeable, caring service for callers.

The Information Services department, with its statewide and regional staff, maintains and continuously updates the database of human services, the basic resource for Infoline's telephone caseworkers, as well as publishing a comprehensive directory for social service professionals both in print and disk forms. This database will be shared electronically and more widely in the coming year.

The Federal Communications Commission has now designated 2-1-1 as the toll-free number for information and referrals to health and human services nationwide. Connecticut was the first state to have a complete state-wide system dating back to March, 1999. 


24 HOUR-A-DAY VALLEY INFORMATION SERVICE UNDER WAY

A partnership between Healthy Valley 2000 and Infoline of Connecticut will allow Valley residents to access local information regarding health and other human services.

The cooperative agreement addresses one of Healthy Valley's 28 action initiatives to improve the quality of life in the community. This initiative will help connect Valley residents with the health and human services they need. People in need of services will continue to call Infoline's existing toll-free number (2-1-1), but new Valley information will be added to complement the multitude of resources already available through Infoline. The Valley information has been gathered from the approximately 50 members of the Valley Council of Health and Human Service Organizations.

"This will greatly change how people learn about services in the Valley," said Richard Knoll, Executive Director of TEAM, Inc. in Derby, the Valley's anti-poverty agency. "We now have a clearinghouse of Valley-specific information available free over the telephone."

He said that Infoline has gathered Valley information related to education, training, domestic violence, senior care, energy assistance, daycare, and a wide range of other health and human service material. Infoline caseworkers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the toll-free number.

The Infoline project was formally unveiled on Wednesday, October 8, 1997 at Healthy Valley's Third Anniversary Celebration at Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center. Brochures, posters, and magnets bearing the toll-free help and information number were distributed at the event, and will continue to be distributed throughout the community.

Valley people in need of services are encouraged to do their "one-stop shopping" for all their service needs by calling the Valley’s Infoline at 2-1-1.


Partner Agency of the Valley United Way

The Valley United Way can be reached via e-mail at valleyuw@snet.net

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