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Working Middle Class Struggling in Shifting Economy

Heather Black, vice president of 211 system strategy, says more callers need help covering basic expenses. Read the full U.S. News & World Report article on how the middle class is shrinking by some measures, and how many households that consider themselves middle class are finding it harder to afford everyday expenses.

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NJ 211 is Connecting People to What They Need When They Need It

Over the past several years, NJ 211 has heard the same urgent plea repeatedly: people need help keeping their lights on. To meet that need, the organization operates the state’s dedicated utility assistance line, a lifeline when shutoff notices arrive and options feel out of reach.

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NBC's Today Show Discusses Winter Utility Costs and 211

NBC's Today Show discusses guidance and recommendations to help individuals and families stay warm during the winter months and highlights 211 - the three-digit helpline - as a potential resource to help those in need. If you or someone you know needs help with health and human services, dial 211 or go to 211.org.

How 211 Keeps Arizonans Safe in Extreme Heat

Arizona’s heat season spans May through September, but for many, the need begins earlier and stretches well into October. In 2024 alone, 211 Arizona arranged more than 9,000 Lyft rides for people with no safe way to escape the heat.

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Heat, Hunger, and Hard Choices

When the heat rises in Rhode Island, so do the calls to 211. Behind every call is a caregiver, a senior, or a family facing an impossible choice.

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211 Providing Support During Extreme Heat Wave

Heather Black, Vice President of 211 System Strategy for the United Way Worldwide joined FOX Weather Command Weekend to discuss how the 211 helpline connects people to vital resources during times of need — including during this week's extreme heat that's gripping a large swathe of the nation.

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Calls for Help Jumped 1.4M During 2024

Calls for help to 211 jumped by 1.4 million during 2024 versus 2023, with help for housing, utilities and food being the leading areas for which people reached out. The 16.8 million calls averaged to 32 calls, texts, or online chats per minute. They resulted in more than 18 million hyperlocal referrals for assistance.

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Case Study: VIA LINK's Dashboards

VIA LINK creates interactive dashboards that bring together data and insights related to call records, information from their resource database, and external datasets. VIA LINK has used the 211 National Data Platform in several ways, such as pulling resource directory data into their dashboards to visualize resource availability and gaps.

Case Study: No Wrong Door Virginia's Social Health Connector Tool

The Social Health Connector is a person-centered online tool that generates a customized social health connection plan based on an individual’s unique responses. The Plan provides customized information on local resources from 211 Virginia. Data from 211 Virginia is shared through the NDP’s Search API product.

Demystifying Open Enrollment for the Caregiver

As a millennial in between parenting my own children and assisting (parenting) my mom in managing her health, I identify as a caregiver and was completely lost when it came to Medicare. I had many questions like, what exactly is Medicare? What does it cover? Is it really free? Is my mom old enough to access it? The more I researched the more questions I had. As I continued to research the insurance and its coverages, things became a lot clearer! For those like me who have a plate full of responsibility, I’ve done some of the leg work to demystify Medicare and all of its parts.

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Supporting Human-Animal Relationships as Protective Factors Against Suicide

People benefit from their relationships with their companion animals, physically and emotionally/mentally; with attention to the needs and well-being of the animals, this can be a symbiotic win-win relationship, in which the well-being of both people and animals are enhanced through the relationships. Caring about one’s animal can also result in stressors when the animal is having a health or behavioral issue, or the person is unable to access a needed resource, e.g., veterinary care due to cost or travel barriers, or housing/shelter because they are prohibited from bring their animal with them.

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The Secret to Success in the Online Classroom

While there are many components to a successful online experience in education, this might be the most important: that you show up with passion and perseverance, that you want to learn, and that you will not let anything stand in your way.

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How to get Assistance with Medical Bills

There are steps you can take on your own to prevent unnecessary debt and to ensure that you’re only paying for services you’ve received. In the struggle against excessive debt, asking the right questions is your secret weapon!

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211 LA Overcomes Hate with Care

CA vs. Hate is not just a hotline; it's a movement that requires the active participation of individuals like you. By joining forces with public agencies, supportive services, and community advocates, we can significantly improve and strengthen the safety net cast around victims of hate acts.

Community partners and organizations gathered from all-across the California state to launch the CA vs Hate initiative in Sacramento, CA.

Celebrating our Tiny Heroes: Month of the Military Child

April is recognized as the Month of the Military Child, a time to honor the sacrifices and challenges faced by the children of military families. These children often experience frequent moves, changes in schools, and long periods of separation from their deployed parents. The Month of the Military Child was established in 1986 by then-Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger to recognize the sacrifices of military children and their unique challenges. It has since become a nationwide observance, with schools, communities, and military installations holding events and activities to celebrate military children and their families.

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211 – A Network United in Data!

Our network contact centers are an entry point to the social sector for 50,000 people a day. Now imagine bringing to life the power of 211 in every doctor’s office, pharmacy, utility company, school district, or even big box retailer. Or partnering with big tech on population health initiatives to identify services gaps in areas of greatest need. There are even opportunities to partner with the federal government to improve disaster response, coordination, and recovery. The NDP is helping our network be better positioned to drive policy, funding, and impact decisions at the highest levels.

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