Area Information Center (211)

Area Information Center (2-1-1)

211 Texas

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 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 fills a substantial role in the Texas Homeland Security Strategic Plan.  TIRN 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. With each disaster, both the 2-1-1-state network and our local 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 45,000-50,000 calls per year. 

The Heart of Texas 2-1-1 is one (1) of twenty-five (25) Area Information Centers designated by the Texas Information and Referral Network (TIRN). 

John Vorderkunz: 2-1-1 Director 

Amy Rossow: CRS - 2-1-1 Call Center Manager 

Marcy Whiddon: CRS-DC, CRS, CRS-A/D – Resource Manager/Emergency Management Coordinator/Information & Referral Contact Specialist  

Joanna Whitehouse: CRS, CRS-A/D – Information & Referral Contact Specialist, Social Media Specialist

Belinda Arocha: CRS - Information & Referral Contact Specialist 

Donnis Cowan: Contract Specialist 

David Gray: Outreach Coordinator

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