Building Bridges to Better Health

211 Contra Costa

"It's a direct extension of our mission to keep people alive and safe, help them through crises, and connect them with local resources." - John Bateson, executive director, Contra Costa Crisis Center

In Brief: 211 is a three-digit phone number that can help people in need gain access to appropriate and affordable services. It can be especially useful for people who have trouble accessing health services due to cultural or linguistic barriers. Our grant is helping the Contra Costa Crisis Center launch and provide 211 services in Contra Costa.

The Health Access Issue: People who need health services - especially those who face cultural and linguistic barriers - often struggle to understand where they need to go and what they need to do to obtain those services. Simply looking through the phone book does not help these people understand which services are best suited to their particular needs or how to go about accessing the services. 211 Contra Costa addresses this concern and many others.

The Health Access Strategy: When people call 211 in Contra Costa County, trained operators - with access to the most comprehensive database of providers in the county - deliver tailored and trustworthy information about food, housing, employment, health care, and other critical services. Studies have shown 211 can save substantial community dollars by taking on calls inappropriate for 911, by ensuring people get the help they need, and by facilitating community planning.

"Call specialists know the different approaches of the different service providers and can identify the best one or two for the caller and let them know what questions to ask and what materials to have on hand when they go for their appointment." - John Bateson