Washington 211 Year End Update: 211 Seeks to Expand Services
January 4, 2023
To correct historical underfunding of the 211 system in Washington State and to realize its full potential, 211 is proposing a substantial state funding request. The proposed additional funding would, help meet 211’s legislative obligation to operate 24 hours 7 days a week, reduce wait times and assist more callers with additional 211 Contact Center Specialists, increase local in-person outreach and resource coordination, and expand the use of closed looped referrals for client referral tracking and outcome reporting. The funding proposal will be submitted for consideration by the Governor and Legislature for the next budget cycle which starts in 2023.
Please help us advocate for an improved and expanded 211 system by signing up below.
If you would like to help WA211 advocate for support, please complete the short survey with your contact information.
211 User and Stakeholder Survey Results
The Deloitte Company assisted Washington 211 this year to identify the strategic direction and future of 211 in the coming years. The project started with a statewide stakeholder survey that included responses from 548 users and community partners, including: 211 partner organizations, regional contact center partners, service providers (listed in 211 resource database), state agencies and legislators responded to the survey.
Respondents were very satisfied with the quality of 211 call services. 87% felt that 211’s resource database is essential in helping people find services and 86% of respondents reported that it was extremely important that 211 operate 24/7 and meet our state legislative obligation under RCW 43.211.
76% of respondents also felt that 211 should expand services. The top three services identified include,
- the creation of an electronic client record and client follow up using closed looped referrals,
- program eligibility screening and program enrollment,
- and Community based in-person information and referral and outreach.
Help is 3 Numbers Away
With the addtion of the new national 988 Suicide Prevention Life Line, Washington State now has three distinct 3 three-digit dialing systems to support people in crisis. The following graphic helps show the types of calls each line addresses and the interrelationship between the three services. Work is currently underway in the state to ensure that no matter what number you call you will get the the most approapriate service to meet your needs.
Grants Support No Wrong Door Access to Traumatic Brain Injury Resources
The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Tramatic Brain Injury (TBI) Advisory Council recently awarded Washington 211 two grants to support Washington residents with TBI’s. The first grant is to provide a “No Wrong Door” community access point to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) information and referral to services. The second grant is a service navigation demonstration project to provide more supportive referrals and follow up. Both services launched November 1, 2022.
To learn about TBI resources or about this partnership go here!