United Way’s 2-1-1 program will expand from 24 to 30 counties in Eastern Iowa.

United Way 2-1-1 will then serve the 996,120 residents in 30 counties in Eastern Iowa, as far north as the Iowa-Wisconsin border and as far south as the Iowa-Missouri border.

2-1-1 was started in 2004 and served 834,000 people in 24 counties through November 2012. In December 2012, six more counties are being added in the Burlington, Marshalltown and north-central Iowa regions, bringing the total of households served to 406,511 (from the previous 348,236). (Those counties were previously served by other 2-1-1 centers.)

The expansion is the result of one 2-1-1 center stopping its partnership with 2-1-1.

It’s long been a goal of the Iowa 2-1-1 system to streamline services and this is one way to do this in a cost effective manner.

You can also search 2-1-1 online at FirstCallforHelpIowa.org.