U.S. Representative Paul Hodes (D-NH) visited staff of 2-1-1 New Hampshire last week during the current legislative recess.  Paul Ramsey, Public Service of New Hampshire Vice President – Energy Delivery, and Dan Comer, PSNH Director – Customer Experience Operations, were on hand with 2-1-1 staff to greet Rep. Hodes and give him a tour of the PSNH Customer Care Center, which houses the 2-1-1 NH operation.   

2-1-1 NH is a statewide, comprehensive, information and referral helpline.  Launched in June 2008, the program provides callers with free information and referrals to thousands of health and human service programs and other community resources throughout the state.  Any New Hampshire resident who has a need and does not know where to turn for help can simply dial 2-1-1 and a trained call specialist can direct them to the appropriate programs.  

In 2001, national legislation initiated by United Way of America and its partners reserved the 2-1-1 dialing exchange exclusively for health and human services.  While the bill passed to reserve the exchange nationally, no federal dollars were connected to the legislation.  Rather than wait for the approval of federal funding, United Way organizations around the country worked to bring 2-1-1 online community by community.  Currently, about 78% of Americans have access to 2-1-1 service.  Pending legislation (HR211, co-sponsored by Rep. Hodes) seeks to provide the boost necessary to finish that job.  A 2004 University of Austin cost benefit analysis of 2-1-1 estimates a net value to society approaching $130 million in the first year alone and a conservative estimate of $1.1 billion over 10 years. A national 2-1-1 system produces costs savings for tax payers, employers and government.  2-1-1 also streamlines the process for citizens to get help, give help and learn about services available to them.  

2-1-1 NH was made possible through a unique partnership with United Ways of New Hampshire and several stakeholders throughout the state including The Endowment for Health, Exeter Hospital, Citizens Bank Foundation, NH Charitable Foundation and NH Housing Finance Authority.  PSNH stepped forward as a lead partner, offering to embed the 2-1-1 NH operation within their recently built, state-of-the-art call center in Manchester. “I am enthusiastic about lending my support to HR211 as a cosponsor and look forward to promoting 2-1-1 NH as a way to effectively and efficiently connect our community to the vital information they need,” Representative Paul Hodes said.  “We need a national commitment to 2-1-1 access and New Hampshire’s collaborative effort paves the way for sustainable funding for     2-1-1 moving forward.”   

Rep. Hodes expressed his gratitude to United Way and its partners for taking the initiative and finding a way to bring 2-1-1 to New Hampshire.  “We are very fortunate in New Hampshire to have organizations like PSNH and other 2-1-1 partners like NH Charitable Foundation, Citizens Bank Foundation, Exeter Hospital and the Department of Health and Human Services, which stepped up to support United Way’s efforts to bring 2-1-1 online statewide,” said Hodes.  

“We recognized that we could share our technical infrastructure and expertise, and by doing so help meet the vital needs of New Hampshire citizens,” noted PSNH’s Paul Ramsey.  “The 2-1-1 NH project is a great example of what can be accomplished when organizations around the state with different strengths and resources come together in support of a common goal.”  While PSNH’s contribution factors minimally into the broader scope of their operations, the company’s support from United Way’s perspective is enormous.  “In a stand alone 2-1-1 operation, it would be difficult to replicate and virtually impossible to sustain the level of technology and expertise that have been made available to us through the partnership with PSNH,” said Heather Aicholtz, Director of the 2-1-1 NH Call Center.  “We feel very fortunate.”  

Members of both the US House Representatives and the US Senate will be asked to consider legislation potentially after the current two-week recess.  For links to the HR211 bill visit www.211us.org  and for more information about 2-1-1NH, visit www.211nh.org or simply dial 2-1-1.  If you have trouble dialing the 2-1-1 exchange directly, please report the trouble to your phone service provider and call 2-1-1 via (866) 444-4211.