About Ohio 211
Ohio 211 connects Ohioans to food, housing, utilities, health care, and hundreds of other community resources — free, confidential, and available every hour of every day.
Who Is Ohio 211?
211 is a simple, three-digit number you can call — or text, or use online — when you need non-emergency help or access to human services. Free, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, 211 is Ohio’s lifeline to community resources.
Ohio 211 is a private, non-profit membership organization served by 13 regional centers across the state. Trained 211 navigators receive calls and conduct a thorough assessment of each caller’s needs. Using a robust statewide database of private and public health and human service agencies, 211 navigators match callers to available community resources — including food, housing, utility assistance, employment, counseling, substance use treatment, legal aid, tax preparation, and health care.
211 does more than “patch people through” to agencies. Navigators are trained to identify the root causes of a caller’s situation and connect them to a full range of resources — not just the one that prompted the call.
Mission
The mission of Ohio 211 is to provide leadership in advocating and collaborating with public and private stakeholders to increase access to quality information and referral services through coordination, education, and innovation.
Vision
That Information and Referral (I&R) in Ohio is a recognized, accredited, collaborative system that includes access to 211 and the continuum of specialized I&R for all Ohioans — a seamless, sustainable statewide system utilizing innovative technology.
I&R Services
Information and referral — commonly known as I&R — is the process of assessing a person’s needs and providing information that enables them to make informed decisions about the community resources available to them. I&R has been an organized service in the United States since 1921, growing significantly after World War II to serve veterans, their families, and an increasingly mobile population.
Today, there are thousands of I&R services across the United States and around the world. Some are comprehensive, community-based programs. Others are specialized, targeting specific populations such as older adults, children and families, or individuals experiencing mental health challenges. Though varied in focus, all I&R services follow the same professional standards of service delivery.
The overriding goal of I&R is to bring people and services together — providing a well-organized, community-based, and easily accessible source of information and connection.
I&R services have been available in Ohio since 1963. Many expanded in the early 1970s as a grassroots movement to help citizens navigate the complex network of available human services. Today, most of Ohio’s 88 counties have some form of information and referral service, with 211 serving as the unified access point.
Our History
Ohio 211 has grown from a small membership organization into the statewide coordination body for 211 services across all 88 Ohio counties.
1978 — Founded as OCIRP
Ohio 211 (formerly Ohio AIRS, and originally the Ohio Council of Information and Referral Providers or OCIRP) was formed in 1978 to promote professionalism in I&R service delivery, enhance the field’s collective influence, and provide members with support in technology, training, funding, and policy development.
1999 — The 211 Ohio Collaborative
In 1999, Ohio AIRS formed the 211 Ohio Collaborative to implement the telephone number “211” for access to community resources across Ohio. In December 1999, the Collaborative petitioned the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to designate 211 as the universal three-digit access number for community services statewide.
2000 — Federal Recognition
On July 21, 2000, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated the telephone number 211 for access to community resource information nationally (FCC 00-256).
2001 — Ohio Approval
In June 2001, the PUCO granted approval for 211 in Ohio and gave Ohio AIRS (now Ohio 211) authority to oversee its development and management. A voluntary Board of Trustees, elected by the membership, oversees the organization’s operations.
Today
Ohio 211 coordinates 13 regional 211 centers serving all 88 Ohio counties. With nearly 800,000 contacts annually, Ohio 211 is a critical safety net connecting Ohioans to the help they need — 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
211 Designation Process
Ohio 211 was authorized by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (Case No. 93-1799-TP-COI, June 21, 2001) to serve as the implementation coordinator for 211 services in Ohio. As of February 2026, Ohio 211 has designated or authorized 211 service for all 88 counties in Ohio.
To receive a 211 designation in Ohio, an entity must meet the following requirements:
- Ensure quality service through 24/7 delivery by an organization accredited by Inform USA, adhering to current Inform USA Standards and Quality Indicators. Accreditation must be obtained prior to designation.
- Demonstrate a plan to fund and market 211 within the service area.
- Demonstrate local support through letters from at least 80% of required organizations listed in the application.
Ohio 211 also welcomes local sponsors who wish to partner with an existing regional 211 provider to fund 211 service and promote 211 within their community. An expedited designation process is available for mergers, mutually agreed-upon transfers, or designee business closures.
For more information about the 211 designation or sponsorship process, contact Ohio 211 at inquiries@ohio211.org.
