For health and social services, call 2-1-1

A coming public service ad campaign, planned for area buses, billboards and BART stations, will highlight a new feature of the toll-free help-line 2-1-1.

Band-aids will replace the “1” in 2-1-1 to call attention to the availability of information about affordable health services in Martinez and surrounding communities.

Similar to 9-1-1, a call to which will summon the appropriate response personnel in any emergency, those who call 2-1-1 will receive one-stop-shopping for all available health and social services, specifically local community services such as available shelter beds, food pantries, child care and employment assistance. Trained information and referral specialists talk to callers and match their needs with available local resources; the service is free and available 24/7 in multiple languages.

Now, 2-1-1 callers can access low cost medical resources in Contra Costa County “to help the newly uninsured find out where they can get health services,” according to Kate Fowlie of Contra Costa Health Services.

“The project aims to let people who have lost their health insurance know that they can call 2-1-1 to find options for affordable health services. Kaiser Permanente is funding the campaign, with input from Contra Costa Health Services, John Muir Health, La Clinica de la Raza, Planned Parenthood: Shasta Diablo and Sutter Delta Medical Center,” said Fowlie. 

One example of a low-cost medical resource 2-1-1 callers will learn about is the County’s Basic Health Care (BHC), which provides temporary health coverage for Contra Costa adults who show proof of legal residency, do not have any medical insurance and meet income stipulations.

A national initiative, some U.S. states have had a 2-1-1 service in place for over ten years. Per California law, only one service provider in each county is permitted to operate the line; in Contra Costa the official 2-1-1 agency is the Contra Costa Crisis Center.

“The bottom line is that there is help out there for people who need it. Health insurance for all Americans may be three years away, but this is a resource that is available right now,” said John Bateson, Executive Director of the Contra Costa Crisis Center.        

The free 2-1-1 service in the County was activated in 2006. According to data provided by the Contra Costa Crisis Center, in December, 96 Martinez residents called 2-1-1 seeking resources and assistance on topics such as homeless services, housing, and financial needs - 551 residents called the helpline in 2009.

“The message is simple – ‘Lost Your Health Care?  Call 2-1-1 for options,’” said Dr. William Walker, Director of Contra Costa Health Services.  “Many newly uninsured people don’t know there are systems like ours and health coverage that can help them and their families stay healthy and get help when they are sick. This campaign will help get the word out.”

“Kaiser Permanente has invested in this campaign because we know that many people who need health care will find options with a simple call to 2-1-1. 2-1-1 provides a vital community service and we want more people to know about it,” said Michael Tully Cintron, Chief Operating Officer of Kaiser Permanente’s Antioch Medical Center.