A new 2-1-1 phone line will launch on Dec. 6 to give central Kentucky residents a one-stop place to get information about hundreds of services.
Megan Stith is president and CEO of the United Way of Central Kentucky, the organization that’s sponsoring the phone line. She says people who answer the 2-1-1 line 24 hours a day, seven days a week, will be able to refer callers to resources in their own community.
“It will include information for state programs, for local nonprofits, schools districts, services for children after school, prescription and medical care, mental health, job assistance and senior services.”
Stith says the 2-1-1 line is not intended for 9-1-1 calls, but if a caller is in a critical situation, they can be connected directly to the emergency line. She says the people who answer the calls are trained to have a “conversation” that may be able identify other needs related to what prompted the person to reach out and make the call.
"For example, if someone is looking for utility assistance, perhaps they have children in the home who might need mentoring or an after school program, or maybe there's a senior, an aging parent in the house.”
The new service is for residents in Hardin, Breckinridge, Grayson, LaRue and Meade counties.