2-1-1

2-1-1 is a free accessible telephone number that will enable everyone to access the vital community services they need. 2-1-1 provides a “one-stop” service for vital information by providing the “right” phone number for the “right” resource needed. It is the equivalent of 9-1-1, but for non-emergency health and human services.

Benefits of 2-1-1

This system has been developed to help members of our communities find the information and referral services they need or the appropriate agency to need those needs. It helps provide unity by linking together those seeking essential services with the right organization. 2-1-1 eliminates the need to navigate the complicated web of health and human services by providing one simple number to link community services to the people who need them.

Did you know?

2-1-1 Info Link Orange County is available to you 24/7 via phone or at 211oc.org. 2-1-1 Info Link Los Angeles County is available to you 24/7 via phone or at 211la.org. 2-1-1 Info Link Riverside County is available to you 24/7 via phone or at connectriverside.org. 2-1-1 Info Link San Bernardino County is available to you 24/7 via phone or at 211sb.org. 2-1-1 Info Link Ventura County is available to you 24/7 via phone or at 211ventura.org.

Services Provided by 2-1-1

Every hour of every day, someone requires essential services such as:

• Child Care

• Emergency Financial Assistance

• Health Care

• Good

• Shelter/Housing Alternatives

• Jobs

• Mental Health Support

• Services for Persons with Disabilities

• Resource for Older Adults and their Caregivers

• Alcohol and Drug Services

• Safe Surrender Sites for Newborns

Call the Police/Get Help

Call the police as soon as possible, so they can provide assistance.

Remember to preserve the crime scene - don’t clean up or move anything so that detectives can collect evidence that will be helpful in bringing your assailant(s) to justice. Then call a trusted friend or family member who can be with you as you interact with the police, physicians, and investigators to make personal decisions. In the days following, you should consider finding a counselor to help you cope with the trauma and the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Care for Injuries

Go to a hospital or physician to have physical injuries treated.

It will also be important to tell medical personnel that your injuries are the result of a crime before you are treated so that DNA can be collected and photographs can be taken of your injuries. Do not shower or wash because doing so may remove or compromise physical evidence needed to apprehend and convict the person(s) who hurt you.

Crime & Trauma Scene Cleanup

If a crime has occurred in a residence which requires trauma-scene cleanup, there is help available for reimbursement of the costs.

A victim's family can seek reimbursement several ways:

• Homeowners insurance

• Renters insurance

• Landlords insurance on residence

• State of California Victims of Crime Compensation Program

If you are a renter or a homeowner and you have a renter’s or homeowner's insurance policy, you should contact your insurance agent for information about possible coverage for work performed by a registered trauma scene waste management practitioner. 

A trauma scene waste management practitioner is registered with the Department of Public Health and provides trauma-scene clean up services commercially. 

When the crime occurs in a residence, the Victims of Crime Compensation Program may reimburse any individual who voluntarily pays or assumes the obligation to pay the reasonable costs to clean the scene of the crime in an amount not to exceed $1,000. Services reimbursed must be performed by persons registered with the State Department of Public Health as trauma scene waste practitioners. If insurance is used and there is a deductible required, the amount may be submitted for consideration of reimbursement. Replacement of property is not covered by this program.

Resources

• Crime Scene Steri-Clean, LLC

  • *24 Hour Suicide/ Homicide/Trauma Cleanup *Free Estimates 

  • *Providing compassionate and professional services since 1995

  • Los Angeles County: (888) 577-7206

  • Orange County: (714) 899-4225

  • San Diego County: (619) 503-4276

  • San Bernardino/Riverside Counties: (909) 481-2285

  • crimecleaners.com 

• Apris Trauma & Crime Scene Clean Up

  • Trauma * Crime * Fire * Water 

  • “A Company With A Heart”... “Making Disasters Go Away!” 

  • (844) 462-7747 / (844) GO-APRIS

  • apris.me

Document the Crime

While it may be the last thing you want to do, it is very important to write down exactly what happened as soon as possible following your incident. The best way to protect your memory is to document the event before being interviewed. Writing down what has taken place will be a source you can revisit to remember details. This will be very important if you need to testify later. A written account can also help to validate your feelings as you walk through the healing process.

Here are some things you should include in your written description:

• THE NATURE OF THE INCIDENT: Step by step, record what happened. If you were assaulted, how? What was said by whom, and how it was said? Include how you came to a place of safety and which direction your perpetrator(s) may have been headed.

• STOLEN ITEMS: A detailed list of any items that were stolen from you will help the police investigation and may be needed for insurance purposes. The location and context of the crime — Write down where the crime occurred as well as important landmarks or other notable information, such as the presence of any potential witnesses.

• THE TIME OF THE CRIME: As accurately as possible, record when the crime took place, as well as any warning signs you may recall. 

• A DESCRIPTION OF YOUR ASSAILANT(S): Describe hair color and style, eye color, shape of face, height, weight, voice, clothing, tattoos, or other identifying marks.

• DESCRIPTION OF OTHER ITEMS: Recall any items that may have been used during the crime, such as a handgun or a vehicle.

Establish Safety

If you or someone you know has just been victimized, there are some important steps you should take in protecting yourself, treating any injuries, and making sure you have the support you need. Below are things to think about immediately following a violent encounter.

First and foremost, get to a safe place, away from danger. If you need help getting there, ask someone to help you. Find a safe place and ask for help if you need it.

Find Support

Surviving a violent crime is difficult, and while the crime may only have taken seconds or minutes, the healing process can take quite a while. The road traveled in the aftermath is slightly different for everyone, but we all need help and understanding along the way. It will be important for you to find support during your healing process. Talk with friends, family, a therapist, a support group, or other survivors in the Connect with Others section of the Witness Justice site. If you need immediate help, you may want to call a hotline for anonymous support.

Some hotlines include:

• Rainn National Sexual Assault Free Confidential hotline

  • (800) 656-HOPE

• Victims of Crime Resource Center

  • (800) 842-8467

  • victimsofcrime.org 

• National Center for Victims of Crime

  • (855) 4-VICTIM / (855) 484-2846

  • victimconnect.org 

• National Domestic Violence Hotline

• • (800)799-SAFE

  • (800)799-7233 and (800) 787-3224 (TDD)

  • thehotline.org 

• National Hopeline Network

  • (800) SUICIDE, (800) 784-2433

  • hopeline.com 

• Love is Respect (National Dating Abuse Calling Line)

  • (866) 331-9474

  • loveisrespect.org 

• Rape Abuse & Incest National Network 

  • (800) 646-HOPE (4673)

Safety & Self Defense

GET SAFE 

Training * Education * Empowerment

• (714) 834-0050

• Fax (714) 834-0070

• 1263 S. Wright St., Santa Ana, CA 92705 

• getsafeusa.com 

This course is specifically designed for survivors of physical & sexual abuse in childhood and survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Our unique approach combines counseling and group processing with personal safety education and comprehensive self-defense training. 

Breaking Barriers is a program that collaborates with other community agencies and professionals including therapists, rape crisis centers, and law enforcement. We empower participants in a safe and secure environment to support themselves and others through the recovery process.

This carefully designed program includes: 

• Managing physiological responses that can occur in stressful situations 

• Methods of reducing anxiety and tension 

• Offensive and defensive self-defense techniques 

• Information and resources concerning one-on-one therapy and group counseling 

• Insight into the prosecutorial process 

• Dating, intimacy, and sex 

• Understanding the domino effect, and how to prevent it

Short-Term Planning

You may feel bombarded with countless details and decisions in the aftermath of a violent encounter — and to make matters worse, you are probably in shock. It will take time to deal with everything, but here are a few suggestions for the short-term

• Call your employer or have a friend call if you cannot return to work right away. Remember that you just survived a serious trauma and even if you weren’t physically hurt, you may need some time away from work to cope. 

• Notify your health insurance company or primary care provider so that you will be covered for your medical care and counseling needs. If you have lost a loved one, you or a friend should notify the life insurance company. 

• Cancel your credit cards if they were stolen. This will hopefully prevent some headaches with your bills and can also lead to the apprehension of the person who may be using them.

• Learn about the investigation of your case from law enforcement. Ask them what they will be doing, what the process is, how you will be notified, and anything else that you may want to know about the process of trying to find your perpetrator(s).

• Let family and friends know what has happened so that they can understand that you’ve been through a trauma and that you will need their support. It is often difficult for others to understand what living through such a trauma is like.

Survival Books

There are numerous books available that deal with the issues crime survivors face.

We have referenced a number of books below:

• The Gift of Fear -- Gavin D. Becker

• Coping with Trauma -- Jon Allen

• Crime Victims’ Guide to Justice -- Mary L. Boland

• Embracing the Fear -- Judith Bemis

• The Four Agreements -- Don Miguel Ruiz

• Gifts from a Course in Miracles -- Frances Vaughan and Roger Walsh

• The Grieving Teen -- A Guide for Teenagers and Their Friends -- Helen Fitzgerald

• Life After Trauma -- Dena Rosenbloom and Mary Beth Williams with Barbara Watkins 

• The Power of Now -- Eckhart Jolle

• The PTSD Workbook -- Mary Beth Williams

• Stop Domestic Violence -- Lou Brown

• What to do When the Police Leave -- Bill Jenkins

When To Call 9-1-1

9-1-1 is the number to call to get help in a police, fire or medical emergency. 9-1-1 calls go over dedicated phone lines to the 9-1-1 answering point closest to the caller, and trained personnel then send the emergency help needed. 9-1-1 should only be used in emergency situations. An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police/sheriff, the fire department or an ambulance. If you are ever in doubt of whether a situation is an emergency you should call 9-1-1. It’s better to be safe and let the 9-1-1 operator determine if you need emergency assistance. If you call 9-1-1 by mistake, do not hang up. Tell the operator what happened so they know there really isn’t an emergency

Do Not Call 9-1-1

• For Information

• For Directory Assistance

• When You’re Bored

• For Paying Tickets

• For Your Pet

• As A Prank

An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police/sheriff, the fire department or an ambulance.

If 9-1-1 Fails, You Should Know These Alternative Telephone Numbers

• Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (non 911) | (323) 267-4800

• Los Angeles Police Department (non 911) | (877) 275-5273