Ohio Expands 211 Helpline Statewide

New partnership between state agency and 211 providers will connect all Ohioans to local resources

Apr. 15, 2026 at 2:19am

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A photorealistic painting of a lone phone booth on a city street, with warm sunlight casting long shadows across the scene, conceptually representing the expansion of a critical community support service.A new statewide partnership aims to make Ohio's 211 helpline more accessible to all residents, connecting them to vital community resources.Columbus Today

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the state's Department of Children and Youth (DCY) announced a new statewide expansion of the 211 helpline service, ensuring all 88 counties in Ohio will have access to the free 24/7 resource referral system by the end of June 2026. The partnership will integrate 13 regional 211 providers into a unified statewide network, expanding coverage to 30 counties that previously had limited or no 211 services.

Why it matters

The 211 helpline provides critical connections to support services for nutrition, housing, healthcare, government assistance, and other everyday needs. Expanding access statewide will make it easier for all Ohioans to find and utilize local community resources, strengthening the state's ability to serve families and individuals facing challenges.

The details

The expansion will integrate Ohio's 13 regional 211 providers into a single statewide system overseen by the Department of Children and Youth (DCY). This will extend 211 coverage to 30 counties that previously had limited or no access to the service. The partnership will also expand access to DCY's Family and Customer Support Call Center, allowing callers to connect with state services and programs outside of regular business hours.

  • The statewide 211 expansion will be fully implemented by the end of June 2026.
  • In 2025, Ohio's 211 centers handled 797,169 contacts and identified 809,120 needs.

The players

Mike DeWine

The Governor of Ohio who announced the 211 expansion partnership.

Kara Wente

The Director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, which is working with 211 to expand services statewide.

Terry Carter

The President of Ohio 211, the organization that will be integrating its 13 regional providers into a unified statewide system.

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What they’re saying

“Connecting Ohioans to the help they need should be simple and accessible. Expanding 211 services statewide ensures that every Ohioan, no matter where they live, can quickly find support for everyday challenges. This partnership strengthens our ability to serve families and makes it easier for people to access the local resources that can help them move forward.”

— Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio

“Every family should be able to find help when they need it. Expanding 211 statewide will make it easier for Ohioans to connect with the services and supports that help children and families stay safe, healthy, and stable. It will also allow us to extend access to information about DCY services and programs after regular business hours and will offer callers access to their local Parent and Youth Ambassadors.”

— Kara Wente, Director, Ohio Department of Children and Youth

“Ohio 211 is thrilled to partner with the Ohio Department of Children and Youth to undertake the full expansion of the existing system. This investment is critical to achieving the longstanding goal of every Ohioan being able to access 211 services at any time. Navigating through the various federal, state, and local services can at times be overwhelming. Ohio's 211 system helps families understand what help is available and how to get connected.”

— Terry Carter, President, Ohio 211

What’s next

The statewide 211 expansion is scheduled to be fully implemented by the end of June 2026.

The takeaway

This partnership between the state government and Ohio's 211 providers will make it easier for all Ohioans to access critical community resources and support services, strengthening the state's social safety net and improving the ability of families and individuals to navigate complex systems of assistance.