Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
By punching in 2-1-1 on the telephone, Kosciusko County residents in need of social services will receive that information from an Allen County referral center.
The service is available today, which also is National 2-1-1 Day.
"Two-one-one is simple and direct. Somewhere, somebody can give you help," said Roger Frick, president of the Indiana Association of United Ways, at a press conference about the program Tuesday. He said the referral service is a priority of United Way of America and AIRS - Alliance of Information and Referral Systems.
Joining Frick were Pat Coy, director of the Kosciusko County United Way, and Suzie Light, executive director of the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. Both groups gave $10,000 to facilitate the program.
Coy and Light are members of the Kosciusko County 211 Steering Committee, along with Jack Felger of Kosciusko Community Senior Service and Laura Kaufman, of Combined Community Services. Clare Baumgardt represented the local United Way board as its president.
Jackie Custer of First Call For Help/United Way of Allen County, said everyone in the county should be able to reach the regional center with 211 no problem.
"Businesses with their own telephone systems, hospitals and jails will not be able to access 211," Custer said. People with Centennial cellular phone accounts can get through as well as people using pay phones. Trained operators will answer questions and provide information Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"The plan is to offer the service 24 hours a day, every day, that's the next phase. A Spanish-speaking operator is available about 20 hours during the week.
"What you gain with this system is efficiency," said Kaufman. "We don't mind getting calls, but we have to get the telephone book out, too.
"We don't have all the resources, and the number isn't long distance."
Custer said the regional center will conduct an annual, formal update of all organization's programs.
According to Frick, what callers will receive are answers to their questions about who does what, when and the telephone number. Calls are answered by trained people.
Coy said one of First Call For Help/United Way of Allen County responsibilities is to gather data about where calls are coming from and what services are needed. The local United Way will provide copies to area not-for-profit organizations and to major employees.
"We see this as a service to human resources managers," Custer said. "What if an employee comes in asking for the day off to take their elderly parent to the doctor's office? The HR person can dial 211 and find out Kosciusko Community Senior Service offers transportation, Mobile Meals sign up and social interaction at the center. Voila, no day off."
The Cinergy, the philanthropic arm of Cinergy/PSI, has pledged $600,000 to the program. Plans are to make the 2-1-1 service available statewide. Currently, six centers serve 21 counties: Allen, Wells, Huntington, Marion, Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Morgan, Shelby, Dearborn, Jefferson, Ohio, Ripley, Switzerland, Bartholomew, Howard, Tippecanoe, White and part of Franklin. The service also is available in parts of 24 states. Connecticut's 2-1-1 program is statewide.
In the Net: www.in211.org
