If you dial 2-1-1 on your phone, anywhere in the state of Connecticut, you will be connected with a professional call specialist that will be able provide you with information about the network of community and social services available in your local area.

Accessible 24/7/365, the call specialists at 2-1-1 will help answer your questions about a variety of topics, including where to seek child counseling, transportation means for disabled residents, where to find reliable, affordable child and elderly care, how to obtain a passport, and what types of addictive behavior support groups are conducted nearby. (Remember to continue dialing 9-1-1 for police, fire, and EMS response service, and 4-1-1 for the telephone directory). The online 2-1-1 Navigator also provides questionnaires that determine whether you may qualify for state or federal programs that assist in paying for food, health insurance, and child care.

2-1-1 began in 1976 as an initiative by the United Way of Connecticut to provide easy access to a comprehensive database of health and human services, and since 2001, the FCC has used Connecticut's 2-1-1 as a model for the entire country. What innovation!

So help spread the word about 2-1-1. Perhaps you or someone you know could benefit from it, and there are many, many organizations and agencies wanting to lend a hand.