2‑1‑1 is a free telephone number providing access to local community services. 2‑1‑1 is available in multiple languages, allowing those in need to access information and obtain referrals to physical and mental health resources; housing, utility, food, and employment assistance; and suicide and crisis interventions. 2‑1‑1 also provides disaster preparedness, response, and recovery during declared emergencies.

How 2-1-1 Works

2-1-1 services are operated by county-based entities that coordinate with local human services agencies and by providers who connect callers to local community services. These entities and providers are members of the California Association of Information and Referral Services (CAIRS) and partners of 2-1-1 California, which works with local, state, and federal government agencies on social services and coordinates with regional 2-1-1 service providers during emergencies and disasters. Each individual service provider establishes and maintains a database of community service programs and agencies for the county or counties it serves and updates the database at least once annually.

To provide 2-1-1 service, providers and entities first apply to the Commission for authority to provide these services. The Commission reviews the application for compliance with Commission requirements, a process that takes around six to twelve months. If the Commission approves the application, the provider must roll out service within one year.

When a caller dials 2-1-1, a local exchange carrier (LEC) routes the call to the authorized 2‑1‑1 provider in the caller’s county. The provider receives the call and connects the caller to the appropriate programs and agencies drawn from the provider’s database.

History

In 2000, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued an order reserving the 2‑1‑1 dialing code for providing non-emergency community information and referral (I&R) services. The FCC’s order recognized and encouraged the states to implement 2‑1‑1 dialing for access to I&R services.

In response, the Commission issued Decision 03-02-029 in 2002, determining that 2‑1‑1 services are to be rolled out by county and establishing administrative procedures for implementing 2‑1‑1 dialing in California. Organizations seeking to provide I&R services must apply to the Commission for authority to use the special code.

The Commission issued its first 2‑1‑1 authorization in 2003 in Resolution T-16776, granting the Information and Referral Federation of Los Angeles County the authority to use the 2-1-1 dialing code to provide I&R services in Los Angeles County. Since then, the Commission has authorized 2‑1‑1 dialing service in 52 counties, covering 98.5% of California’s population. The latest county to be granted authorization was Placer County in March 2020.

6 counties, representing approximately 0.5% of California’s population, still lack 2-1-1 service. The Commission is working with various agencies and nonprofit organizations to extend 2-1-1 service to these remaining unserved areas.

2-1-1 Resources

 

North State

Counties

Lead entity

Website

Certification resolutions

Butte
Glenn

Help Central, Inc.

http://www.helpcentral.org/

T-17394
T-17580

Colusa
(during disasters only)

Interface Children and Family Services

https://211colusacounty.org/

T-17679

 Del Norte
(during disasters only)  
Interface Children and Family Services https://211delnortecounty.org/ T-17679

El Dorado

County of El Dorado

https://211eldorado.org/

T-17645

Humboldt

211 Humboldt

https://211humboldt.org/

T-17381

Lake
(during disasters only)
Interface Children and Family Services https://211lake.org/ T-17679
Lassen
(during disasters only) 
Interface Children and Family Services https://211lassencounty.org/ T-17679

Mendocino

Inland Empire United Way

https://www.211mendocino.org/

T-17218

Nevada
Placer

Connecting Point

https://211connectingpoint.org/

T-17148

T-17686

Sacramento
Yolo

Community Link Capital Region

https://211sacramento.org/

T-16908

T-17255

Shasta
Tehama

United Way of Northern California

https://211norcal.org/

T-17220
T-17393

Siskiyou
(during disasters only)  

Interface Children and Family Services

https://211siskiyoucounty.org/

T-17679

Sutter
(during disasters only) 
Interface Children and Family Services https://211suttercounty.org/ T-17679
Trinity
(during disasters only) 
Interface Children and Family Services https://211trinitycounty.org/ T-17679

Counties without service: Modoc, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Yuba

 

Bay Area

Counties

Lead entity

Website

Certification resolutions

Alameda

Eden I&R, Inc.

http://www.211alamedacounty.org/

T-16785

Contra Costa

Contra Costa Crisis Center

https://cccc.myresourcedirectory.com/

T-16821

Marin
Napa
San Francisco
San Mateo
Santa Clara
Solano

United Way Bay Area

https://www.211bayarea.org/

T-17007
T-17079
T-16827
T-17252
T-17063
T-17080

Sonoma

United Way of the Wine Country  

https://211sonoma.org/

T-17145
T-17689

 

Central Coast

Counties

Lead entity

Website

Certification resolutions

Monterey

United Way Monterey County

https://211montereycounty.org/

T-17146

San Benito

United Way of San Benito County

https://211sanbenitocounty.org/

T-17406

San Luis Obispo

United Way of San Luis Obispo County

https://www.unitedwayslo.org/2-1-1

T-17102

Santa Barbara

Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County

https://211santabarbaracounty.org/  

T-16894

Santa Cruz

United Way of Santa Cruz County

https://211santacruzcounty.org/

T-17253

Ventura

Interface Children and Family Services

https://www.211ventura.org/ 

T-16832

 

Central Valley and the Sierras

Counties

Lead entity

Website

Certification resolutions

Alpine
(during disasters only)

Interface Children and Family Services

https://211alpinecounty.org

T-17679

Alpine
(during disasters only)  
Interface Children and Family Services https://211calaverascounty.org T-17679

Fresno

United Way Fresno and Madera Counties

http://www.valley211.org/

T-17109

Kern

Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK)

https://www.211kerncounty.org/ 

T-17070

Inyo
(during disasters only)
Interface Children and Family Services   https://211inyocounty.org/ T-17679

Kings

Kings United Way

https://www.211kingscounty.org/ 

T-17147

Mariposa
Merced

United Way of Merced County

https://mountainvalley211.org/ 

T-17487

Madera
(during disasters only)
Interface Children and Family Services   https://211maderacounty.org/ T-17679
Mono
(during disasters only)
Interface Children and Family Services   https://211monocounty.org/  T-17679

San Joaquin

Family Resource and Referral Center

https://www.211sj.org/ 

T-17441

Stanislaus

United Way of Stanislaus County

https://stanislauscounty211.org/

T-17041

Tulare

United Way of Tulare County

https://www.211tularecounty.org/ 

T-17217

Counties without service: Amador, Tuolumne

 

Southern California

Counties

Lead entity

Website

Certification resolutions

Los Angeles

Information & Referral Federation of Los Angeles (INFO LINE)

https://www.211la.org/

T-16776

Orange

People for Irvine Community Health dba Info Link Orange County

https://www.211oc.org/

T-16825

Riverside

Volunteer Center of Riverside county

https://connectriverside.org/

T-16844

San Bernardino

Inland Empire United Way

https://211sb.org/

T-16994

San Diego
Imperial

INFO LINE of San Diego County

https://www.211sandiego.org/ 

T-16845
T-17254

Contact

Please direct questions concerning 2-1-1 to staff at leu@cpuc.ca.gov.