Why Dial 211?

It's a toll-free number answered 24 hours a day and a three-digit number that can provide you with a lot of answers.

In Contra Costa County, 2-1-1 is a free, non-emergency, confidential phone number and service that provides easy access to critical health and human services.

You can call 211 toll-free, 24 hours a day, and be connected to a trained multilingual specialist who can help with a multitude of questions.

According to the 211 website, information includes:

• Basic Human Needs Resources: food banks, clothing closets, shelters, rent and utility assistance
• Physical and Mental Health Resources: health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health, Children's Health Insurance Program, medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention and rehabilitation
• Employment Supports: financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, education programs
• Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities: adult day care, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, home health care, transportation, homemaker services
• Support for Children, Youth and Families: childcare, after-school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services
• Volunteer Opportunities and Donations

The operators at 211 have access to a database with information on government and nonprofit agencies that represent specialized services. 

The 211 in Contra Costa County is part of 2-1-1 California, which links 27 counties and has a goal of serving the entire state in the near future. 

In addition to providing information on food, shelter, job placement and an array of health-care programs, 211 in Contra Costa County serves as a crucial public information system during a crisis such as an earthquake, tsunami or fire.

For more information on the free service, click here.