Area Information Center (211)
Area Information Center (2-1-1)
Heart of Texas 2-1-1 is a “free” social service help line answered by trained contact specialists who assist callers with their social service needs and refer them to service providers or agencies that can best assist them. The help line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Multi-lingual language assistance (Language Line) is available, if needed, for any caller speaking a foreign language.
Our 2-1-1 staff provide information and referral services that connect callers to resources for food, clothing, shelter, utility bill payment assistance, medical assistance, affordable childcare, eldercare, disaster relief, etc. Anything from A to Z.
Individuals can simply call “2-1-1” on their telephone from anywhere in the State of Texas and the call is routed to the nearest available Area Information Centers (AIC) where the call is answered. There are 25 Area Information Centers in Texas. There is no charge or fee for calling 2-1-1. The local 2-1-1 office is in the Heart of Texas Council of Governments. Texas Information and Referral Network (TIRN) oversees all 2-1-1 Agencies and is also a part of a national initiative to provide information about health and human services to all callers regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, disability, or any other criteria.
The TIRN network has assumed increased visibility and importance because of their effectiveness and success in dealing with hurricanes and natural disasters. TIRN is the backbone for information distribution throughout the state during times of emergency and natural disasters including floods, hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, and tornadoes. The Heart of Texas 2-1-1 plays an integral role in the Governor’s Homeland Security Strategic Plan by following the AIC Emergency Management Protocols during disasters or other events that have the potential to or have resulted in property damage, deaths, and/or injuries in Texas communities by providing information to the public in the event of a disaster or emergency.
With each disaster, both the 2-1-1-state network and our local Heart of Texas 2-1-1 immediately begin to feel the impact of the disaster with thousands of frantic callers asking for evacuation assistance, shelters, food, supplies and other information related to the disaster.
The Heart of Texas 2-1-1 takes between 32,000 – 37,000 calls per year.
John Vorderkunz: 2-1-1 Program Director
Amy Rossow CRS: 2-1-1 Contact Center Manager / Emergency Management Coordinator / Outreach Coordinator
Joanna Whitehouse CRS, CRS-DC, CRS-A/D: Resource Database Manager / Backup Emergency Management Personnel / Social Media Specialist / Backup Information & Referral Contact Specialist
Marcy Whiddon CRS, CRS-DC, CRS-A/D: Information & Referral Contact Specialist / Backup Resource Mgr.
Belinda Arocha: CRS - Information & Referral Contact Specialist
Donnis Cowan: Contract Quality Assurance Specialist
Follow us on Facebook: Heart of Texas 2-1-1 Facebook
