Mission & History of 211

Mission & Vision

Vision

The agency’s all-volunteer Board of Directors has formulated the following as its vision statement: “211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast envisions a community where people in crisis receive the information and support they need to weather life’s storms.”

Mission

211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast’s mission is to save and improve lives through crisis intervention and by connecting people to health, mental health, and wellness services 24 hours a day every day.

History

211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast is a private nonprofit 501(c)3 agency that was started in 1971 in Palm Beach County as a drug hotline and quickly expanded into crisis counseling and suicide prevention.  In 1981, this effort was funded by the United Way to provide information and referral services, and over the years, additional partners provided funding to support a quality, centralized access point for health and human services information and crisis services.  In 2000, the three-digit dialing code, 2-1-1, was designated nationally by the FCC for information and referral purposes, and it became the telephone number for the agency’s helpline.  Effective November 1, 2001, the agency expanded its service area to the Treasure Coast, serving the residents of Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee Counties and, in 2005, Indian River County. 

The agency’s name was officially changed in 2007 from The Center for Information & Crisis Services to 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast.  211 has long been the designated agency to answer all local calls dialed into the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and, since 2010, has served as the Rape Crisis Victim of Violent Crimes Hotline. Today, 211 also responds to a national Disaster Distress Helpline, a Special Needs Hotline the agency established, as well as the Help Me Grow initiative, among others. With increased technology capabilities and demands, 211 Palm Beach / Treasure Coast also launched CHAT and text messaging functions to better suit the needs of the residents in the service area.  

Inform USA (Formerly AIRS)

The national accrediting agency for information and referral agencies awarded accreditation to 211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast (formerly The Center for Information and Crisis Services) in 2001. This was the first agency in the State of Florida and the fifth in the nation to receive this accreditation.

The American Association of Suicidology (AAS)

The national organization dedicated to the understanding and prevention of suicide has certified The Center’s crisis hotline service since 1996.
Learn More

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Formerly the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Since its inception, the Lifeline has engaged in a variety of initiatives to improve crisis services and advance suicide prevention. The Lifeline Network strives to create and uphold best practices in assessing suicide risk and imminent risk. All Lifeline centers follow these high standards for helping suicidal callers.

Certified by the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence (FCASV)

The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence is a statewide nonprofit organization committed to victims and survivors of sexual violence and the sexual assault crisis programs who serve them.
Learn More

Accredited by Nonprofits First

211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast recognizes the importance of maintaining best practices and is proud to be recognized as an accredited nonprofit organization by Nonprofits First. Learn More