Nov 15, 2013
Rochester, NY – Every day thousands of people find the help they need quickly, conveniently and free of charge because of Information and Referral (I&R) services. To recognize the importance of I&R in our community, 2-1-1/LIFE LINE is taking part in I&R Day on November 16.
Information and Referral is the art, science and practice of bringing people and services together and is an integral component of the health and human services sector. People in search of critical services such as financial assistance, food, shelter, child care, jobs, or mental health support often do not know where to begin to get help, or they get overwhelmed trying to find what they need. With I&R the information is available at their fingertips with one simple phone call, text message, or website.
2-1-1/LIFE LINE provides 24/7 crisis/suicide intervention and I&R services for emergency food, shelter, clothing, crisis counseling, substance abuse issues, employment, financial and legal issues, physical and mental health needs, and more to people in Monroe, Wayne, Ontario, Livingston, Cayuga, and Seneca counties.
In late 2011, at the request of the Alliance of Information and Referral Services (AIRS), the U.S. Senate passed S.RES.241 designating November 16, 2011 as “National Information and Referral Services Day”. AIRS is an international nonprofit professional association with a membership of more than 1,200 public and private I&R organizations including 2-1-1/LIFE LINE. Together, we have decided to continue celebrating I&R Day each November 16 to raise public awareness and recognize the critical importance of the I&R field.
2-1-1/LIFE LINE has served as a vital connection to community resources in the Finger Lakes area for the past 40 years. We are the place to call when you don’t know where to call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our database lists over 1600 agencies and 6500 different programs provided by those agencies that could help our callers and online chat visitors with issues they are facing in their lives,” said Shye Louis, 2-1-1/LIFE LINE manager.
About 2-1-1/LIFE LINE
2-1-1 /LIFE LINE is a 24/7 crisis/suicide intervention program and Information & Referral (I&R) service serving Monroe, Wayne, Ontario, Livingston, Cayuga and Seneca Counties. We offer assistance and referrals for emergency food, shelter, clothing, crisis counseling, substance abuse issues, employment, financial and legal issues, physical and mental health needs, and more. If you need help, just ask! Dial 2-1-1 or 1-877-FLNY2-1-1 (1-877-356-9211), accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays, with Spanish-speaking telecounselors and telephone translation services available. Visit www.211LIFELINE.org for more.