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Information and Assistance
What Is 2-1-1 ?
2-1-1 is a free community service. Call us for information or to seek help in a crisis 24 hours a day, every day. Simply dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-826-7871.
Find Help
Browse our online database of community services. This database contains information about agancies offering health and human services to Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Starke, and Pulaski residents.
Disaster Response
From regional floods to earthquakes, hurricanes, and acts of terrorism, 2-1-1 has been the number to call for thousands who have been affected by disaster.
News and Announcements
February 11 is National 2-1-1 Day. Northwest Indiana Community Action (NWICA) joins its 2-1-1 local partners, the Lake Area United Way and the United Way of Porter County to celebrate the day’s recognition of this important service. Last year, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels said the dialing code (2-1-1) is an easier and more efficient way for residents to get connected to essential social services, such as food, shelter and health care in his official proclamation.
Northwest Indiana Community Action’s 2-1-1 call center (NWI211) is staffed by certified Call Specialists and Benefits Counselors who assist callers seeking free, fast and confidential information and referrals to a variety of local health and human services. Callers seeking information may dial 2-1-1 free of charge any time of day. NWI211 also hosts a Community Resource Database: www.nwi211.com , a site where anyone with access to the internet can browse for services, live chat with a Call Center Specialist or register to become a listed service provider.
Gary Olund, NWICA’s President/CEO said, “NWICA received just under 51,000 calls last year, but we know there are still folks out there who do not know where to turn for this kind of help; celebrating National 2-1-1 Day is one way we can get the word out about 2-1-1 and the many advantages to the community.” One such advantage is that while specially trained phone counselors help callers identify their needs and provide referrals they might not know existed, time is freed for local agencies to directly serve clients. Callers have a better sense of their actual needs, what services might help address those needs and are armed with the specific information necessary to fulfill those needs.
National 2-1-1 Day is especially important during tough economic times. “There are so many who are looking for help for the first time, it can be difficult to navigate through the thousands of resources, eligibility requirements and red tape. We can help them get answers quickly and easily,” said Becky Harbinson, NWICA’s 2-1-1 Call Center Manager.
By calling 2-1-1 on National 2-1-1 Day or any day, Indiana residents will be connected to resources such as:
• food banks, clothing, homeless shelters, warming/cooling shelters, domestic violence shelters
• medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention, rehabilitation, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health, children’s insurance programs.
• financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, education programs, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) filing assistance, free tax preparation sites
• home health care, adult day care, congregate meals, home delivered meals, respite care, transportation, homemaker services, wellness programs
• quality childcare, after school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services.
• Volunteer/donor opportunities.