Provide planning and assistance during emergencies:
2-1-1 can provide support for all phases of an emergency – prevention, planning, response and recovery – to include:

• Providing the public with information on shelter, clothing, food, rumor control, and eventually, rebuilding and recovery.
  
  
• Coordinated dissemination of information to promote accuracy, improve service accessibility and increase the impact of shared resources.
  
  
• Resource database sharing for times when the only information available to staff and the public is through the website.
  
  
• Handling calls offering assistance and donations.
  
  
• Tracking existing resources and linkages to services during recovery of a large-scale disaster, which can last from a few months to several years.

(source: http://national.unitedway.org/211/ Retrieved 1/31/07)

Locate government numbers or gain information on a physician:

United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg’s Information and Referral Center recently launched two pilot services through contracts with state agencies.  2-1-1 provides access to both services.

• The Virginia government directory assistance service assists Virginia citizens, legislators, state and local agencies, and institutions with the number to government services. Callers are given state telephone numbers and other information as needed. 
  
  
• A project with the Virginia Department of Health Professions provides callers with information on whether or not a physician is licensed or if there have been any actions taken against a physician.
  
  
• Health professionals included in this feature are: doctors, nurses, dentists, chiropractors, veterinarian, occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, licensed professional counselors, psychologists, audiologists, optometrists, pharmacists, funeral directors and all other licensees of the Department of Health Professions.
  
  
• Additional information is available on doctors (medicine, osteopathy and podiatry) licensed in Virginia, such as office hours and location and whether languages other than English are spoken in the doctor’s office. 
  
  
• Prior to 2-1-1 VIRGINIA this information was only available through the Department’s website or through telephone calls to the Department directly.