The United Way of Bay County Board of Directors has voted to add a new partner agency to their growing list of organizations that help local residents: 211 Northeast Michigan. This regional non-profit provides information and referral service to human service programs. A person who doesn’t know where to get help can simply pick up the phone and dial 2-1-1. The agency will answer the call, ask a few questions and then refer the caller to a local organization that can help.
The advantages of a 211 system include:
- A 24 hour link to services
- Helping people get connected to answers
- Capturing demographic data and providing reports on areas of greatest need, as well as unmet needs, to aid in community planning
- Certified call specialists and resource managers who provide services using national standards
- A reduction in calls to local agencies asking for services they do not provide, saving agencies’ time and resources
- Translation services and services for the hearing impaired
- Connecting people and volunteers to agencies during times of disaster
United Way is leading the effort to help bring services to Bay County. The organization committed $16,115 to support first year start-up funding. The start-up funds help to cover the cost of technology, phone line switching, and staffing. The funding provided by United Way enables 211 Northeast Michigan to apply for matching grants from the federal government and the Consumers Energy Foundation, reducing the start-up costs for Bay County by 50 percent. As a partner agency, 211 will be provided the opportunity to receive designations from the community fund drive and may submit funding requests to United Way’s Community Investment Panels. These panels will determine the future level of funding the agency receives based on outcomes stated in their grant application.
211 aims to bring services to the Great Lakes Bay Region as early as July of 2012. The application for providing services has been submitted to the state for review and includes providing services to Alcona, Alpena, Arenac, Crawford, Huron, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw and Tuscola counties. 211 Northeast Michigan currently provides services to Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, and Midland counties.
United Way will continue to provide information and referral services until 211 is operational and plans to collaborate with them once it launches in July.
211 Northeast Michigan Executive Director Scott Redman stated, “We are very excited to join United Way of Bay County and look forward to a lasting partnership.”
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