Albany, NY - Call To Add 211 For Social Services

Albany, NY - Call 911 for the cops, 411 for directory assistance and - soon - 211 for answers about your state's social services. In 38 states, 211 offers information about elder care, drug abuse, welfare and other issues.

"New York has a very rich infrastructure of services. It's finding those services when people need them that's the barrier," said Susan Hager, president of the United Way of New York State and co-chair of the 211 New York State Collaborative.

Officials say a statewide 211 should be available, confidentially and 24 hours a day, in a few years. It's already in use in the Finger Lakes and Hudson Valley regions.