PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release
2-1-1 US Contact: Dave Bartek / Dave.Bartek@liveunitedsem.org / P: 313.226.9245
Washington, D.C., Jan. 30 - The American Journal of Preventative Medicine released a special supplement for December 2012 called Research Collaboration with 2-1-1 to Eliminate Health Disparities. The supplement, which focuses on the national 2-1-1 information and referral system, is available on the National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences website athttp://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/brp/srtb/211eliminate-hd.html. 2-1-1 is a three-digit telephone information and referral service that connects mainly low-income, unemployed and uninsured people to health and social service agencies available in their communities. Currently, the national 2-1-1 system reaches over 90% of the entire U.S. population and is accessible in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. It is used heavily, with 16-17 million telephone interactions (and almost as many web inquiries) nationwide every year. Across the country, knowledge of the service is growing and the number of people calling 2-1-1 is increasing dramatically every year. To develop the December 2012 special supplement, the 2-1-1 Health Research Working Group of the Department of Health and Human Services brought together researchers and 2-1-1 system leaders to address the health needs of low-income Americans by raising awareness of the opportunities and benefits of engaging in 2-1-1 research collaborations to eliminate health disparities. One major conclusion is that 2-1-1 opens the door to possibilities for health improvement nationwide by helping callers make connections and get referrals that will link those callers with an array of health resources tailored to their particular needs. "This detailed third-party research proves what the 2-1-1 sector has been saying for years - that 2-1-1 transforms the way services are accessed and has the ability to prevent the development of serious health, economic and social problems at an early stage," says 2-1-1 United States Steering Committee Chair Dave Bartek of United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "We hope that those responsible for implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act engage 2-1-1 providers in their states to explore how 2-1-1 can maximize healthcare dollars long-term." About 2-1-1 US: 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember three-digit telephone number that brings people and services together. And 2-1-1 US is the entity that brings together the rich diversity of the national 2-1-1 movement. The mission of 2-1-1 US is to ensure that 2-1-1 is Excellent, Everywhere and Always. The rapid growth of 2-1-1during the first decade of development has transformed access to human services and this achievement needs to be both enhanced and sustained. Additional information is available at www.211US.org.]]>
