what is pa 2-1-1 northeast?
PA 211 Northeast is part of the national 211 Call Centers initiative designed to provide an easy-to-remember telephone number, chat, text, and a web resource for finding health and human services information for everyday needs and crisis situations.
PA 211 Northeast is brought to you by Family Service Association of NEPA’s Help Line.
HELP LINE HISTORY: Help Line was established in 1972 after Hurricane Agnes devastated the Greater Wilkes-Barre area. It was designed to provide a central resource for vital information for the victims of this disaster. In 1975, Help Line entered into agreements with a several area agencies to provide twenty-four-hour crisis services. Soon after, other agencies signed onto the service and Help Line became the crisis center for most Wyoming Valley social service agencies. In 2011 Help Line started providing information and referral services under the PA 2-1-1 banner — becoming PA 2-1-1 Northeastern PA. The service grew beyond an active data listing of local agencies to additional regional, state and national resources. Answers on questions on anything from children’s health resources to housing information and more are available to assist you!
SERVICES TODAY: PA 2-1-1 NEPA / Help Line is the after-hours crisis service. With one phone number, callers gain free, confidential access to thousands of program and services that can help improve the quality of their lives – services ranging from aging to mental health, child abuse/neglect reports, drug and alcohol services, runaway help, energy assistance, and homelessness and victim services. In fact, every day, highly trained 211 call specialists provide referrals to:
- Basic Human Needs Resources: food banks, shelters, rent and utility payment assistance
- Physical and Mental Health Resources: crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling
- Employment Support: financial assistance, job training, education programs
- Support for Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities: home-delivered meals, transportation, health care
- Youth and Child Care Programs: after school programs, summer camps, mentoring, protection services
- Regional Disaster Preparation
PA 2-1-1 NEPA / Help Line has answered over 2.9 million calls since the start of operations in 1972, handling 98,000 calls a year in 2017, or approximately 269 calls per day. In addition providing information to the 17 county coverage area, PA 2-1-1 NEPA / Help Line also received calls from fifty four counties in Pennsylvania as well as twenty seven different states.
With one phone number, callers gain free, confidential access to thousands of programs and services that can help improve the quality of their lives. Help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 211 (or 1-888-829-1341). TTY and language services are available in more than 170 languages and dialects.
PA 2-1-1 NEPA / Help Line is a member of the Alliance of Information & Referral Systems (AIRS) and the Pennsylvania Alliance of Information & Referral Systems (PA AIRS).
GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER. LIVE UNITED