United Way announces 211 campaign
The United Way of the Mohawk Valley has announced the launch of a new multifaceted campaign to raise awareness about the availability and value of the 211 information resource among those in need.
“Calling 211, texting 898-211 or visiting www.211midyork.org reduces time and frustration by acting as a central access point to needed health and human services within Herkimer, Oneida, and Madison Counties,” said United Way of the Mohawk Valley Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Susan Litera in a statement.
About 211
2-1-1 contact centers are staffed by trained specialists who quickly assess the callers’ needs and refer them to the help they need, officials said.
2-1-1 services are free, confidential, and accessible to everyone through multilingual capabilities. Information is also available online through comprehensive regional databases of government and nonprofit services.
With the vision of a first-rate, accredited information and referral service in mind, 211 Mid-York turned on the phone on January 1, 2015. With this launch 211 Mid-York joined other 211 services throughout the state that provide state-wide service to residents.
Now, in addition to being able to dial 211 by phone, residents can access the community’s most extensive listing of available resources and services online or by texting "HELP" to 898-211.
An additional benefit of 211 is that cumulative call reports enable communities to pinpoint areas of need and address gaps in service, thus enhancing a community’s health and human services capacity and the likelihood of positive change, officials said.
“It is my pleasure to be a voice of 211 and spread the word to help improve quality of life in the Mohawk Valley. 211 is available to everyone for everyday needs and critical information during and after a local or national crisis, disaster or tragedy, 24 hours per day, 365 days out of the year,” said Utica Mayor Michael Galime, in a statement. “It helps connect people with resources ranging from healthcare and housing to food and clothing as well as an array of other services.”
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: United Way launches campaign for 211 use
