More than 87,490 calls have been placed to United Way’s Missouri 2-1-1 help line since November 13, 2007. With one year running, the Missouri 2-1-1 help line has exceeded expectations across the state. This fast, free, confidential give or get help line for health and human services is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the state of Missouri for those calling from a land line or AT&T cell phones. Other cell phone users should call 800-427-4626 for the same service. Information and resources, including a searchable database of services available can be found at: http://www.211missouri.org/. Missouri 2-1-1 covers 99 counties throughout the state plus nine metro-east Illinois counties. The remaining 17 counties are covered by United Way of Greater Kansas City’s 2-1-1.
“We’re so pleased that 2-1-1 has been such a success,” said Linda McAnany, President of United Way of Central Missouri. “We knew it was important for United Way to be able to offer this free service to help the residents of Missouri. We’re grateful that our main funder, Missouri Foundation for Health, understood its importance as well. It can be overwhelming not knowing where to turn for help. The staff, who man the phones 24 hours a day, are trained at referring callers to the organizations that can assist with their needs.”
“With more than 10,000 health and human service organizations and government programs throughout Missouri, it’s hard to know where to turn,” said McAnany. “By dialing 2-1-1, our call specialists are there to help you through the maze.”
Number and type of calls
Most of the calls made to 2-1-1, are from people looking for help with basic needs such as utility, rent and food assistance. More and more calls are coming in regarding mortgage assistance.
The 2-1-1 call specialists can help people find health and human service assistance on everything from food and shelter to job counseling services, or health resources. It is also available for everyday and non-emergency needs, and offers easy access to community-based organizations and government agencies that provide services such as:
· Basic human needs resource: food pantries, clothing, shelters
· Mental and physical health resources: medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention, rehabilitation, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health, children’s health insurance programs.
· Employment support: financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, education programs, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) filing assistance.
· Support for older adults, people with disabilities: home health care, adult day care, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, transportation, homemaker services.
· Support for children, youth and families: quality childcare, Success by 6, after school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services.
· Volunteer/donor opportunities
· Help in non-emergency situations
People also can call 2-1-1 to volunteer support or donate help to agencies. For example, during the summer flooding throughout the state, more than 3,000 calls were received to find out how people could help.
Disaster response
· Received 608 calls for disaster related assistance such as floods, tornadoes and ice storms.
· During the 2008 summer, 2-1-1 received 79 heat-related calls.
Special programs
· Nearly 1,700 calls came in for the Earned Income Tax Credit free tax preparation locations throughout the state.
· More than 3,200 calls during the first year have come in statewide for mortgage assistance.
A total of $8.5 million was pledged for Missouri 2-1-1’s first five years of operation. MFH committed a total of $4.75 million to the project — $1 million for start-up costs and $3.75 million over five years to support annual operation costs. United Way of Greater St. Louis is providing an additional $3.75 million over the five years to support the remaining annual operation costs. The United Way of Greater St. Louis is handling all Missouri 2-1-1 administration and operating responsibilities.
The 2-1-1 Call Center is located at the United Way of Greater St. Louis, with data collection hubs in Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Springfield and St. Louis. Data hubs focus on updating records about health, health-related and social services to ensure that callers are always receiving up-to-date information.
The 10 Missouri United Ways involved with United Way of Greater St. Louis in the Missouri 2-1-1 program are: United Way of Central Missouri, United Way of the Ozarks, United Way of Southeast Missouri, United Way of Adair County, Columbia Area United Way, United Way of the Mark Twain Area, Callaway County United Way, Carthage Area United Way, United Way of Southwest Missouri and United Way of St. Francois County.
Kansas City and its 16 surrounding counties have had a 2-1-1 service through the United Way of Greater Kansas City since March 2006, with call volume and service also exceeding expectations. That 2-1-1 service is not affected by or included in today’s announcement.
photos of Missouri 2-1-1 call center available at: http://www.211missouri.net/pressroom.aspx
About Missouri 2-1-1
2-1-1 is a fast, free and confidential way to get help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 2-1-1 call centers operate under national standards and are staffed by trained specialists who quickly assess the callers’ needs and refer them to the help they seek. Information is available on a broad range of services, including food banks, affordable housing, health resources, child care; after-school programs, elderly care, financial literacy, and job training programs.
About United Way of Central Missouri
The United Way of Central Missouri is a local, volunteer-driven organization that helps local people in need and provides community solutions. United Way unites people and resources in the Mid-Missouri area by leading and coordinating a community effort for one another. United Way of Central Missouri 25 partner agencies and programs serve individuals in Cole, Moniteau, Osage, Miller, and Southern Callaway counties. For more information, contact 573-636-4100 or visit www.unitedwaycemo.org.
“We’re so pleased that 2-1-1 has been such a success,” said Linda McAnany, President of United Way of Central Missouri. “We knew it was important for United Way to be able to offer this free service to help the residents of Missouri. We’re grateful that our main funder, Missouri Foundation for Health, understood its importance as well. It can be overwhelming not knowing where to turn for help. The staff, who man the phones 24 hours a day, are trained at referring callers to the organizations that can assist with their needs.”
“With more than 10,000 health and human service organizations and government programs throughout Missouri, it’s hard to know where to turn,” said McAnany. “By dialing 2-1-1, our call specialists are there to help you through the maze.”
Number and type of calls
Most of the calls made to 2-1-1, are from people looking for help with basic needs such as utility, rent and food assistance. More and more calls are coming in regarding mortgage assistance.
The 2-1-1 call specialists can help people find health and human service assistance on everything from food and shelter to job counseling services, or health resources. It is also available for everyday and non-emergency needs, and offers easy access to community-based organizations and government agencies that provide services such as:
· Basic human needs resource: food pantries, clothing, shelters
· Mental and physical health resources: medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention, rehabilitation, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health, children’s health insurance programs.
· Employment support: financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, education programs, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) filing assistance.
· Support for older adults, people with disabilities: home health care, adult day care, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, transportation, homemaker services.
· Support for children, youth and families: quality childcare, Success by 6, after school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services.
· Volunteer/donor opportunities
· Help in non-emergency situations
People also can call 2-1-1 to volunteer support or donate help to agencies. For example, during the summer flooding throughout the state, more than 3,000 calls were received to find out how people could help.
Disaster response
· Received 608 calls for disaster related assistance such as floods, tornadoes and ice storms.
· During the 2008 summer, 2-1-1 received 79 heat-related calls.
Special programs
· Nearly 1,700 calls came in for the Earned Income Tax Credit free tax preparation locations throughout the state.
· More than 3,200 calls during the first year have come in statewide for mortgage assistance.
A total of $8.5 million was pledged for Missouri 2-1-1’s first five years of operation. MFH committed a total of $4.75 million to the project — $1 million for start-up costs and $3.75 million over five years to support annual operation costs. United Way of Greater St. Louis is providing an additional $3.75 million over the five years to support the remaining annual operation costs. The United Way of Greater St. Louis is handling all Missouri 2-1-1 administration and operating responsibilities.
The 2-1-1 Call Center is located at the United Way of Greater St. Louis, with data collection hubs in Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Springfield and St. Louis. Data hubs focus on updating records about health, health-related and social services to ensure that callers are always receiving up-to-date information.
The 10 Missouri United Ways involved with United Way of Greater St. Louis in the Missouri 2-1-1 program are: United Way of Central Missouri, United Way of the Ozarks, United Way of Southeast Missouri, United Way of Adair County, Columbia Area United Way, United Way of the Mark Twain Area, Callaway County United Way, Carthage Area United Way, United Way of Southwest Missouri and United Way of St. Francois County.
Kansas City and its 16 surrounding counties have had a 2-1-1 service through the United Way of Greater Kansas City since March 2006, with call volume and service also exceeding expectations. That 2-1-1 service is not affected by or included in today’s announcement.
photos of Missouri 2-1-1 call center available at: http://www.211missouri.net/pressroom.aspx
About Missouri 2-1-1
2-1-1 is a fast, free and confidential way to get help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 2-1-1 call centers operate under national standards and are staffed by trained specialists who quickly assess the callers’ needs and refer them to the help they seek. Information is available on a broad range of services, including food banks, affordable housing, health resources, child care; after-school programs, elderly care, financial literacy, and job training programs.
About United Way of Central Missouri
The United Way of Central Missouri is a local, volunteer-driven organization that helps local people in need and provides community solutions. United Way unites people and resources in the Mid-Missouri area by leading and coordinating a community effort for one another. United Way of Central Missouri 25 partner agencies and programs serve individuals in Cole, Moniteau, Osage, Miller, and Southern Callaway counties. For more information, contact 573-636-4100 or visit www.unitedwaycemo.org.
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