What is PA 211 Northeast?
PA 211 Northeast is part of the national 2‑1‑1 Call Centers initiative designed to provide an easy-to-remember telephone number, chat, text, and a web resource for finding health and human services information for everyday needs and crisis situations.
PA 211 Northeast is a program of the Family Service Association of NEPA’s Help Line.
HELP LINE HISTORY: Help Line was established in 1972 after Hurricane Agnes devastated the Greater Wilkes-Barre area. It was designed to provide a central resource for vital information for the survivors of this disaster. In 1975, Help Line entered into agreements with a several area agencies to provide twenty-four-hour crisis services. Soon after, other agencies signed onto the service and Help Line became the crisis center for most Wyoming Valley social service agencies.
In 2011 Help Line started providing information and referral services under the PA 211 banner — becoming PA 211 Northeastern PA. The service grew beyond an active data listing of local agencies to additional regional, state and national resources. Answers on questions on anything from children’s health resources to housing information and more are available to assist you!
SERVICES TODAY: PA 211 NEPA / Help Line is the after-hours crisis service for fourteen different organizations serving Bradford, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Sullivan and Wyoming Counties. With one phone number, callers gain free, confidential access to thousands of program and services that can help improve the quality of their lives – services ranging from aging to mental health, child abuse/neglect reports, drug and alcohol services, runaway help, energy assistance, homeless homelessness and victim services. In fact, every day,, highly trained 211 call specialists provide referrals to:
- Basic Human Needs Resources: food banks, shelters, rent and utility payment assistance
- Physical and Mental Health Resources: crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling
- Employment Support: financial assistance, job training, education programs
- Support for Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities: home-delivered meals, transportation, health care
- Youth and Child Care Programs: after school programs, summer camps, mentoring, protection services
- Regional Disaster Preparation
PA 2-1-1 NEPA / Help Line has answered over 3.1 million calls since the start of operations in 1972, handling approximately 82,000 calls a year in 2020, or approximately 225 calls per day. In addition to providing information to our 17 county coverage area, PA 211 NEPA / Help Line also received calls from forty other counties in Pennsylvania.
With one phone number, callers gain free, confidential access to thousands of programs and services that can help improve the quality of their lives. Help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 2‑1‑1 (or 1-855-567-5341). Language translation services are available in more than 140 languages and dialects.
PA 211 NEPA / Help Line is a member of the Alliance of Information & Referral Systems (AIRS).
I can’t dial 211 from my work phone.
Some phone networks or PBX systems that require a “9” or another outside line access code may need to be adjusted so you can dial 211. Most systems allow you to dial 911, but some may need to be changed for 211. Also, if you internal extensions that begin with a “2” your system will need reprogramming. Your telecommunications staff or service provider should be able to make these adjustments. You can also reach us by dialing 1-855-567-5341.
