A bill before a U Senate committee ...

A bill before a U Senate committee would provide resources and funding for a telephone service that coheres callers with free information about community-based health and social service programs. The 2-1-1 service, which is already active in 31 states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico, combines callers with local food banks, shelters, crisis intervention hotlines, counseling services, medicine and alcohol intervention programs, and maternal and children's health programs, as well as medical information, health insurance information, and other services. Launched in Atlanta in 1997 the 2-1-1 program is storeed through local United Way agencies. The Senate bill would provide federal grants for states to implement the service. Additional information about the 2-1-1 service is available online at http://www.211.org; the Senate bill is available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.211:.

COPYRIGHT 2005 American Academy of Family Physicians

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