Prairie Public Broadcasting

Officials kick off effort to win 211 hotline funds BALTIMORE (wesm) - (AP) Federal and state leaders are kicking off an effort to win funding for a statewide hotline to help connect Marylanders with health and human service needs.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski has requested $800,000 to make the state's 211 hotline pilot program permanent and is cosponsoring a bill that would provide dedicated funding for such services nationwide.

Gov. Martin O'Malley, Comptroller Peter Franchot and United Way of Central Maryland President Larry Walton will join Mikulski to announce the effort to secure federal funding at the call center in Baltimore on Monday.

The 24-hour hotline with call centers at four sites around the state offers assistance to callers in more than 150 languages. Employees offer information and referrals for mental health services, caring for aging parents and help for people who have lost their homes or jobs.

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