Anna Eshoo

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) is pushing legislation to expand availability of a free telephone social service referral number throughout the nation, according to this article in the Mercury News.

In some parts of the country the public can dial 211 to get referrals to a variety of social services, including mental health programs, domestic violence shelters, emergency housing and substance abuse counseling.

Eshoo has a bill to provide $100 million per year through 2014 for grants to support the service. Nonprofits and local governments would have to match the grants, she said.

“I’ve been a social worker for 20 years, and I really feel like it’s revolutionized the way I do my work,” California social worker Dawn Valadez said in the article.

To find out whether 211 telephone service is available in your area click here. You can also learn about the many services social workers provide by visiting the National Association of Social Workers’ “Help Starts Here” Web site by clicking here.