Every hour of every day, someone in the United States needs essential services-from finding substance abuse assistance to securing adequate care for a child or an aging parent. Faced with a dramatic increase in the number of agencies and help lines, people often don't know where to turn. In many cases, people end up going without these necessary and readily available services because they do not know where to start.

While services that are offered through 2-1-1 vary from community to community, 2-1-1 provides callers with information about and referrals to human services for every day needs and in times of crisis. For example, 2-1-1 can offer access to the following types of services:

• Basic Human Needs Resources: food banks, clothing closets, shelters, rent assistance, 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: child care, after school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services.
• Volunteer Opportunities and Donations.

Contact our local Legislatures:

Debbie Stabenow: senator@stabenow.senate.gov
Dave Camp: www.house.gov/camp
Mike Rodgers: www.house.gov/mikerodgers
Valde Garcia: vgarcia@senate.state.mi.us
Richard Ball: dball@house.mi.gov