211 New Hampshire

211 New Hampshire Mission and Vision

211 New Hampshire Mission

To build NH’s capacity to strengthen the way people access help and engage in civic life.

211 New Hampshire Vision:

To provide the residents of NH with easy and accurate access to health and human services and to meet their needs daily and in times of crisis.

211 History

United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta first launched 2-1-1 in 1997. 2-1-1 is now available in 41 states. Eighteen states have statewide coverage including, VT, CT, and ME.

United Way of America supports 2-1-1 as the first number to call to connect with health and human services and volunteer opportunities. United Ways have a long-standing tradition of commitment to funding information and referral (I&R) services in their respective communities. They have also declared February 11th National 2-1-1 Day.

NH 2-1-1 Background and Planning

The efforts to bring 2-1-1 to NH began in 2000 with the passage of House Bill 707. This bill established the NH 2-1-1 Commission. The commission was made up of representatives from the legislature, 9-1-1, the Department of Health and Human Services and local information and referral (I&R) agencies, specialized and comprehensive.

The commission’s task was to review information and referral services in the State of NH and make recommendations to the Governor, Legislature and Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on providing 2-1-1 services to the residents of NH.

In June 2002, the Legislature's 2-1-1 Commission formally accepted a design for NH's 2-1-1 service.

In 2003, five regional and statewide I&R agencies and the United Ways of New Hampshire joined to create the NH 2-1-1 Partnership. This Partnership petitioned the NH PUC to reserve 2-1-1 in its name.

In 2005, the NH 2-1-1 Partnership was awarded the 2-1-1 dialing code by the PUC. UWNH and the I&R agencies have since been working together to determine the most efficient, effective and sustainable operational model for NH 2-1-1.

In 2006, UWNH became the lead partner in the 2-1-1 effort, supporting a project director to assist with planning and development of 2-1-1 and recruiting a chief volunteer to assist the project director and establish a Task Force.

From April 2006 through July 2006, the project director and the volunteer Task Force Chairperson analyzed existing 2-1-1 programs and reviewed program costs, technology, staffing structure, call volume, phone systems, and current and future United Way funding for the five NH I&R agencies.

On June 30, 2006 at a UWNH meeting, the UWNH voted to support a centralized 2-1-1 system with one central call center and database initially operating 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

In November 2007, in partnership with Public Service Company of New Hampshire, 2-1-1 NH launched its information and referral service via a toll-free number.

By the end of 2008, citizens across the State of NH will be able to connect, via landlines and cell phones, by simply dialing 2-1-1.