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Governor Signs "211" Law
Some parts of Illinois already have 211 service. Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill into law Friday expanding it to the whole state.

211 is an easy-to-remember phone number that people can call when they're in need of human or social services, such as food, shelter, drug treatment, suicide prevention or child abuse prevention.

Jack Kaplan of the United Way of Illinois says operators will either handle the situation themselves, or steer callers to the appropriate department, agency, program or non-profit organization to handle to problem.

This is already up and running in 13 counties in the Bloomington area, the Quad Cities and the Metro East area. It is anticipated that the statewide rollout will start next year.

Under the law the governor signed, the state will select a non-profit group to coordinate 211, but exactly how and where calls are answered and routed has yet to be worked out.

The measure the governor signed was sponsored by Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and by State Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest). It passed the House and Senate unanimously.

(Illinois Radio Network)
08 21 09 by Newsroom
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