2-1-1 Colorado is MyFriendBen’s flagship distribution partner, bringing fast, free and easy benefit eligibility screening to over 12,000 Colorado households annually.
2-1-1’s “Why” – Mission Alignment with MyFriendBen:
2-1-1 Colorado piloted MyFriendBen in their workflow starting in the Fall of 2023 to:
- Give call center staff a meaningful tool to help households. Prior to MyFriendBen, 2-1-1 staff were limited to referring households to government agencies, which meant clients could be on hold for hours and directed to multiple applications.
- Be a force multiplier to 2-1-1’s statewide efforts to connect clients to resources
- Help address unmet needs for clients statewide
- Give callers an easier path to start when inquiring about public benefits as an improvement to “the maze required” to find help
- Expand self-service options and after-hours help for clients looking for answers for benefits
This is about giving people control. It gives our team that feel-good energy. We are able to end the day knowing that we gave people something that could really help them, where before we felt like we couldn’t tell folks where to go.
– Monica Heredia-Corona, 2-1-1 Supervisor
Key MyFriendBen Use Cases:
- Prominently featured on their statewide website/database
- Offered by call center staff as a resource for those who are looking for benefits
- Emailed to the client for self-service upon the close of the call
- Shared with clients who have had a major life event (moving into the state, having a baby, becoming unemployed) and want a landscape of resources available
- During tax season, 2-1-1 call center staff encourages filing of taxes through visualizing expected dollar value received
2-1-1 Colorado + MyFriendBen First 18 Months Of Impact(over first 18 months of use):
$2,200
Median monthly value in benefits identified for 2-1-1 households
6:04
Average time for a 2-1-1 household to use MyFriendBen
44%
Households navigate to a benefit site or connect with a navigator
Partnership In Action
The partnership between MyFriendBen and 2-1-1 Colorado is a thoughtfully integrated collaboration designed to enhance the way Coloradans access and navigate public benefits. Through a white-labeled version of MyFriendBen seamlessly embedded into 2-1-1 Colorado’s website, users experience a cohesive interface that aligns with the 2-1-1 brand while gaining powerful tools to explore benefits eligibility. A user-friendly feature in the footer of the MyFriendBen tool allows for easy return navigation to the broader 2-1-1 resource database, supporting clients seeking additional services such as shelter information.
This partnership was built on mutual contributions: 2-1-1 Colorado offered strategic guidance on workflow integration, shared branding assets, and ongoing feedback that informed product improvements. In return, MyFriendBen equipped frontline staff with targeted training, communication collateral, and a robust data dashboard to monitor usage, benefits trends, and financial impact. A key takeaway from the partnership is the value of self-service — call center staff frequently email the MyFriendBen screener to clients, who often prefer completing it independently due to its simplicity and speed. Additionally, website placement proved critical; when the tool was made more visible online, user volume doubled.
With “Do I qualify for…?” being one of the most common questions fielded by 2-1-1, MyFriendBen has become an essential resource to quickly address client needs with clarity and confidence.
