The recent wave of domestic violence has prompted county officials to remind residents that resources — particularly Prince George’s 2-1-1 hotline — are available to help families that could be on the brink of tragedy. Here are five things you should know about 2-1-1 in Prince George’s County based on information from county officials from news conferences held Monday and government websites. 1) County officials launched 2-1-1 last fall as a way to combat domestic violence. It combines resources from police, the state’s attorney’s office, the sheriff’s office and other county agencies such as health and human services to connect callers to help. 2) 2-1-1 isn’t just for victims. The county is urging friends, children, neighbors who may know about domestic abuse to call and report problems. Even abusers or potential abusers are encouraged to call, with the county aiming to provide them help before violence escalates. 3) Hotline operators are trained in crisis intervention and listening. Their job is to figure out what the best steps are to provide intervention and prevention. When operators figure out the right department or person who can help, they just don’t pass on a number for people to call. They conduct a “warm transfer” linking the caller to a person who can take over the case. 4) Along with 2-1-1, the county offers a full list of domestic violences resources available at this link. 5) 2-1-1 is confidential. “We need neighbors, family members and friends, along with victims and survivors, to get involved and help save lives by calling 2-1-1 to get confidential assistance,” County Executive Rushern L. Baker III said in a statement released Monday about the county’s domestic violence homicides. “We must proactively prevent tragedies like these from happening again.”
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 14:05:04 +0000
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