In May 1997,
United Way of Atlanta created the concept of using 2-1-1 as a dialing code to
access information and referral services. In 1998 a group of information and referral
programs, local United Ways, human service providers and interested citizens
began meeting to discuss how to bring 2-1-1 to Washington State. After almost
three years of active discussion the group determined they needed a more formal
structure to coordinate the development of a state 2-1-1 system.
The Washington Information Network 2-1-1 (WIN 211) – a
coalition of existing local providers of information and referral services and
local United Ways from every region of the state – was incorporated as a
nonprofit corporation under the laws of the State of Washington in August
2001and was recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in April
2002. With this recognition, WIN 211 was able to secure
funding from United Ways of Washington and United Way of King County to
actively support 2-1-1 planning and development across Washington.
On April 15, 2003, the Washington state legislature passed ESHB 1787 in support
of the creation of a 2-1-1 system for the state and gave specific leadership responsibilities
to WIN 211. This legislation:
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