Information and Referral Center

Information & Referral Center

Where can I get assistance/find information if . . .

I am in an abusive relationship?
I have an elderly parent that I need assistance with?
I need food?
I need help paying my rent?
I need help setting a household budget
I think I may have been exposed to HIV?
I need childcare for my child that has special needs?
I want to volunteer?
I want to help a local agency but I don’t know what their needs are.
I want to know about agencies special events?

The answers to these questions and many more

can be found by accessing 2-1-1.

2-1-1 is an easy to remember, simple three-digit

phone number brought to you by Catawba County

United Way. This free and confidential service

provides our community easy access to valuable

health and human services information 24 hours a

day, seven days a week. One call can provide

information on daycare, camp options, programs

for senior citizens or the disabled, as well as many

other programs and services within our area.

You may also access 2-1-1 online at www.nc211.org

Since July 2000, when the Federal Communications Committee designated 2-1-1 as the national phone

number for health and human services information and referrals, 2-1-1 has grown in leaps and bounds. 23

counties within North Carolina and 47% of North

Carolinians now benefit from the over 8,000 services

in the database. Last year more than 60,000 people

found help by calling 2-1-1.

To learn more about 2-1-1, call Catawba County United Way at (828) 324-HELP(4357).

What is Information & Referral?

I&R stands for Information & Referral. There are thousands of I&R service agencies operated by non-profit and government organizations throughout the United States. These I&R services answer millions of calls annually. I&R services are responsible for connecting callers with opportunities to get and give help through more than 1.6 million health and human service providers, government agencies, and community-based service organizations in the United States.

I&R agencies maintain comprehensive databases of resources including federal, state, and local government agencies, private non-profit agencies, faith and community based organizations, schools, libraries and neighborhood and civic organizations. the comprehensive I&R agency often maintains this data for the specialized centers in the community and makes it available on the Internet, in other electronic forms, and through paper directories and handbooks.

I&R specialists are skilled professionals. They assess callers' needs and help the caller determine their options and the best course of action. Additionally, I&R specialists are trained to determine whether a caller may be eligible for other programs, to intervene in crisis situations, and to advocate on behalf of the caller, as needed.