Did you know that information on local health and social services is now accessible by calling 211? Just like calling 911 for an emergency, people can call 211 to identify, navigate, and connect with the local resources they need.
The statewide nonprofit 211info is part of the nationwide 211 phone system. Staff are available to answer calls from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact can also be made by emailing [email protected], texting your zip code to 898211, visiting 211info.org, or using the mobile app.
The program lists over 35,000 services varying from assistance programs to recreational activities, according to Carrie Prechtel, Community Engagement Coordinator for Jackson and Josephine Counties. Food, energy assistance, shelter, health, and dental assistance are among the top needs in Southern Oregon.
A caller gives the 211info information specialist their zip code and that’s the only information actually required. It is the caller’s choice to proceed with more personal information. After a short discussion of what the caller is looking for, 211info will refer the caller to a number of local agencies that can help and explain about the suggested services.
Staff at 211 also screen callers for qualification for programs. For example, if someone calls in about help with their energy bill, the staff might ask if they have enough food to eat and if they might need assistance with SNAP (food stamps). They will also inform them of any documents or paperwork that would be helpful to bring with them to their appointment. All information is anonymous and confidential, and there are bilingual staff ready to help.
Expanded services in Oregon include a 24/7 hotline for foster parents, giving them help and support with their foster children, and child care referrals, during extended hours including weekends, for anybody looking for any type of child care services.
For more information, go online to 211info.org — or call 211.
NAMI of Southern Oregon is a nonprofit affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (nami.org), the leading grassroots organization dedicated to providing education, support and advocacy for people with mental illness and their families. We are an all volunteer organization that offers help and hope for recovery.
Mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.
Mental illness affects everyone. Nearly 60 million Americans experience a mental health condition every year. Regardless of race, age, religion or economic status, mental illness impacts the lives of at least one in four adults and one in ten children across the United States.
NAMI-SO has helped hundreds of people in Jackson and Josephine Counties who are struggling with the challenges of mental illness through our Medford Resource Library, presentations, classes, support groups, partnerships and community events. Services are offered at no charge.
varying from assistance programs to recreational activities, according to Carrie Prechtel, Community Engagement Coordinator for Jackson and Josephine Counties. Food, energy assistance, shelter, health, and dental assistance are among the top needs in Southern Oregon.
