February 11th is 211 Day across North America

February 11, 2015 · 0 Comments

February 11th is 211 Day across North America. To mark 211 Day, the Dufferin County OPP are asking residents to make the right call if they want or need help.
Call 2-1-1 for information on your community, social and health services, even municipal and Local Health Integration Network funded services like housing, employment and mental health and addiction agencies. Call 911 for threats or harm to a person or property that require police, fire or ambulance services. Knowing the right number to call will help residents find the right services for their situation and has the potential to reduce inappropriate calls to 911 from residents.
“211 is an easy to remember phone number, like 911. 211 is answered by trained specialists who know our community services and can refer callers to support near them,” said Constable Paul Nancekivell, Dufferin OPP. “211 has information not only on municipal social services but all our community, social, health and government programs.”
211 is answered live, 24 hours a day, every day of the year including holidays just like 911 is. Residents are encouraged to call 2-1-1 for services like food banks if they are hungry, mental health support if they are in crisis or for the non-emergency police number if they need the police but it is not an emergency.
Call 2-1-1 for:
• Non-emergency police number
• Food banks
• Walk in clinics
• Caregiver support programs
• Mental health help
• Meals on Wheels
• Emergency shelters
• Services for domestic violence victims
• Public health
• Telehealth Ontario
• Crisis services
• Provincial and local helplines
• Settlement help for newcomers
• Housing help centres
• Youth drop in programs Child, youth and family counselling
• Emergency utility assistance
• Government services and assistance
• Disability support programs Parenting programs