Tampa Bay Cares

2-1-1 Tampa Bay Cares, Inc. was founded in 1996 as Pinellas Cares, Inc., a charitable organization with a purpose of providing volunteer opportunities for the community. Helpline (now 2-1-1) began as a program of Family Resources in the mid-1970s. In 1999, following a strategic planning process, Family Resources refocused its core mission, Family Resources spun off three programs - Helpline, the Volunteer Action Center, and Community Voice Mail - to Pinellas Cares, Inc. On June 4, 2001, the Helpline officially became 2-1-1, the number to dial "to find help and give help" in Pinellas County. At the same time Pinellas Cares changed its name to 2-1-1 Tampa Bay Cares, Inc., reflecting its dual focus on 2-1-1 and volunteering. It became the eighth 2-1-1 center in the United States and the second in Florida, providing crisis counseling as well as social services and volunteer referrals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To secure mission-centric programming and critically needed financial support, 2-1-1 TBC became a regional service in 2002 when it became the contractor for 2-1-1 service in Hernando County. This regional role further expanded in 2005 when United Way of Citrus County began contracting with 2-1-1 TBC to provide the service for Citrus County residents. 2-1-1 TBC also provides after hours 2-1-1 service in De Soto, Manatee, Pasco, and Sarasota counties. The 2-1-1 TBC call center also answers local calls to the national Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Since it was established in 1996, the operating budget for 2-1-1 TBC has grown from $400,000 to over $1 million. A timeline of agency milestones includes: 2009 2-1-1 TBC receives full accreditation by the Alliance for Information and Referral Systems (AIRS). Only 96 of over 240 2-1-1 call centers in the US have successfully completed the full AIRS accreditation process.