Help is Just a Phone Call Away With United Way’s 2-1-1
UNITED WAY IN THE NEWS
June 2006
Published by: Mature Advisor
Written by: Patricia A. Ellis & Megan L. Bracket
Often, when someone needs assistance with health and human service needs, it’s
difficult to navigate the maze of agencies and service providers to find the
right answer. Now, it’s easier to get help by making one call to United Way’s
2-1-1. Since December 2005, residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties can
call a simple three-digit number, 2-1-1, and get connected to thousands of
health and human services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
United Way’s
2-1-1 is an easy access, multilingual, comprehensive information and referral
service that connects people to health and human services, as well as volunteer
opportunities, 24-hours a day, seven days a week. 2-1-1 specialists are trained
to handle each call with dignity, making the process of asking for help less
painful and the connection to services much easier and effective. All calls to
2-1-1 are confidential and the service adheres to very high standards for call
handling practices.
It’s estimated that United Way’s 2-1-1 service will
serve more than 140,000 callers in 2006, connecting people with more than 5,000
programs and services throughout the tri-county area alone. Callers receive
information regarding a wide range of services, such as home healthcare needs
and prescription assistance.
Callers looking for opportunities to
volunteer in their communities can find easy access to the many options
available through 2-1-1.
Calls specialists are trained to guide
individuals to identify volunteer opportunities that best match the caller’s
interests, time commitment, and geographic location.
United Way has been
advocating for the 2-1-1-call center in southeastern Michigan for more than two
years and is also working for statewide coverage. Currently, there are 187
active 2-1-1 systems throughout the United States, with the first one
established in 1997. Prior to the implementation of United Way’s metro Detroit
call center, only 14 percent of M i ch i g a n’s residents had access to 2-1-1.
Now, more than half of Michigan’s population is able to access needed services
by dialing 2-1-1, making this one of the largest 2-1-1 centers in the nation. In
the first four months since it’s inception, United Way’s 2-1-1 has responded to
more than 32,000 requests for services. Washtenaw, Livingston and Monroe
counties are also working together to bring a call center to serve residents.
Feedback from 2-1-1 callers so far has shown that 96 percent found the
service to be helpful and 97 percent would recommend 2-1-1 to friends and
family.
United Way’s 2-1-1 service is a collaborative p a r t n e r s h
i p with The Information Center, Neighborhood Service Organization, The Detroit
Public Library, Common Ground Sanctuary, and Macomb County Crisis Center.
Referral information is up-to-date and individuals in crisis receive the highest
quality of care. Anyone in need of help can contact 2-1-1 or 1-800-552-1183.
June 2006
Published by: Mature Advisor
Written by: Patricia A. Ellis & Megan L. Bracket
Often, when someone needs assistance with health and human service needs, it’s
difficult to navigate the maze of agencies and service providers to find the
right answer. Now, it’s easier to get help by making one call to United Way’s
2-1-1. Since December 2005, residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties can
call a simple three-digit number, 2-1-1, and get connected to thousands of
health and human services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
United Way’s
2-1-1 is an easy access, multilingual, comprehensive information and referral
service that connects people to health and human services, as well as volunteer
opportunities, 24-hours a day, seven days a week. 2-1-1 specialists are trained
to handle each call with dignity, making the process of asking for help less
painful and the connection to services much easier and effective. All calls to
2-1-1 are confidential and the service adheres to very high standards for call
handling practices.
It’s estimated that United Way’s 2-1-1 service will
serve more than 140,000 callers in 2006, connecting people with more than 5,000
programs and services throughout the tri-county area alone. Callers receive
information regarding a wide range of services, such as home healthcare needs
and prescription assistance.
Callers looking for opportunities to
volunteer in their communities can find easy access to the many options
available through 2-1-1.
Calls specialists are trained to guide
individuals to identify volunteer opportunities that best match the caller’s
interests, time commitment, and geographic location.
United Way has been
advocating for the 2-1-1-call center in southeastern Michigan for more than two
years and is also working for statewide coverage. Currently, there are 187
active 2-1-1 systems throughout the United States, with the first one
established in 1997. Prior to the implementation of United Way’s metro Detroit
call center, only 14 percent of M i ch i g a n’s residents had access to 2-1-1.
Now, more than half of Michigan’s population is able to access needed services
by dialing 2-1-1, making this one of the largest 2-1-1 centers in the nation. In
the first four months since it’s inception, United Way’s 2-1-1 has responded to
more than 32,000 requests for services. Washtenaw, Livingston and Monroe
counties are also working together to bring a call center to serve residents.
Feedback from 2-1-1 callers so far has shown that 96 percent found the
service to be helpful and 97 percent would recommend 2-1-1 to friends and
family.
United Way’s 2-1-1 service is a collaborative p a r t n e r s h
i p with The Information Center, Neighborhood Service Organization, The Detroit
Public Library, Common Ground Sanctuary, and Macomb County Crisis Center.
Referral information is up-to-date and individuals in crisis receive the highest
quality of care. Anyone in need of help can contact 2-1-1 or 1-800-552-1183.
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