History

211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast was founded as Crisis Line Information & Referral Services in 1971, by a noted area psychologist. The original purpose of the organization was to serve as a drug hotline and provide information to area teenagers and their parents about drugs. The agency quickly expanded into crisis counseling and suicide intervention/prevention. Further, as the community grew and new needs were identified the agency moved to fill those needs by developing and implementing new programs appropriate to its mission.

In 1980, the agency developed the Sunshine Daily Telephone Reassurance Program. 

In 1981, the agency was funded by the United Way to serve as the central countywide information and referral service.

In 1988, the agency added two programs: Youth Services (Teen Hotline) and Elder Crisis Outreach.

In 1994, the agency became Palm Beach County's Elder HelpLine, a contracted service which was extended until May 2009. To date, 211 continues to ensure its services are available to individuals of all ages. 

In 2000, the FCC designated 2-1-1 as the dialing code to access community information and referral services.

In 2001, the agency expanded its service area by providing 24 hour 7 day per week information, referral and crisis intervention services to the residents of Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee Counties.

In 2002, the 3-digit 2-1-1 number was implemented in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. The agency also began operation of the Homeless HelpLine for Palm Beach County.

In 2003, the agency expanded its Elder HelpLine service to the residents of Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee Counties in addition to Palm Beach County.

In 2004, 211 was awarded the management contract for CMIS, Client Management Information System, a HUD-funded network which connects 48 Palm Beach County human service agencies that work with in-peril and homeless populations. 211 staff provide the technical and administrative support for this critical web-based system.

In 2008, 211's Elder Crisis Outreach Program celebrated its 20th Anniversary and since it's inception, provided short term crisis stabilization services to more than 6,000 distressed seniors.  

In 2008, 211 Resource Center Specialists assisted 173,105 callers and made 177,198 referrals to 3,478 community programs.