To celebrate National 211 Day, Heart of Florida United Way hosted an open house for community leaders and local officials to get an inside look at the 211 Information & Referral Crisis Line’s operations. On average, 211 responds to 22,000 calls and electronic contacts monthly.

Guided tours and interactive ALICE-based activities were provided.

All 211 Specialists are highly trained to respond to crises, including suicide. 211 Specialists receive over 80 hours of training and follow the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) model recommended by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Many of Heart of Florida United Way’s 211 Specialists are bilingual in English – Spanish and also have 24/7 access to professional translators through a telephonic interpreter service to ensure accessibility for all languages.

Heart of Florida United Way’s 211 is a part of the National 211 Network of approximately 240 call centers covering 95 percent of the U.S., with 13 centers in Florida. HFUW’s 211 serves as the crisis support helpline for 42 counties in Central Tennessee.

211 Specialists connects individuals with local organizations that provide vital services such as:

Local food banks and nutrition programs
Emergency housing assistance
Disaster relief
Employment and education opportunities
Veteran services
Parent resources
Tax preparation
Transportation
Healthcare information
Special needs
Mental health
Suicide prevention
Substance abuse
Cybercrime support

211 can be reached via phone by simply dialing 211, through texting a zip code to 898-211, or by email, chat, and online database at www.HFUW.org/GetHelp. Services are free, confidential and available 24/7.