Last year, 2-1-1 launched its new mobile app. That's good news if you're like the many Americans who prefer to have information at your fingertips instead of via phone conversation or human interaction.

Here are 3 things you should know about the 2-1-1 app:

1.You can find need-to-know information on hundreds of community resources in Larimer County (and thousands in Colorado). 2-1-1 is an information hub for resources like rent assistance, food, shelters, medical and mental health services and much more. But what makes 2-1-1 different from Google and other popular search engines is that, in addition to providing contact information, most of the time you can find program eligibility criteria, intake procedures and requirements, as well as a description of the service.

2. You can connect to the right 2-1-1 call center for the different regions of Colorado or somewhere else in the U.S. Did you know that there are 6 regional 2-1-1 call centers in Colorado and at least one (usually more) in almost every state? In Colorado, each region covers a different portion of the state and sometimes your phone will route you to the wrong one. You can eliminate the run around by selecting the desired county or zip code for services in the app and it will make sure you get to the right call center.

3. You can find programs for those things you may not want the rest of the world to know about. Even though every 2-1-1 call is confidential and 2-1-1 Community Specialists treat each client with the upmost respect, sometimes it can be hard to take that first step to find help. Maybe it's a drug or mental health struggle, or maybe there was an unexpected financial emergency this month and rent is now a little short, either way, with the 2-1-1 app you can search anonymously and see if there are any programs that might be able to help.

Download the 2-1-1 app today for iPhone or Android.

In the event that you can't find what you're looking for, or you have questions, you can always call a 2-1-1 Community Specialist by dialing 2-1-1 or 970-407-7066. Who knows, you might even get some insider tips for easier access to agency programs and resources.