Number to provide centralized public health, human services information

By John Marmish
UNITED WAY

A new service is coming to Citrus County in June thanks to the partnership of the Shared Services Alliance, the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners, the Health Department and the United Way of Citrus County. These entities saw a need for one central telephone number to access information on health and human services and volunteer opportunities services in the County. This one central phone number is an easy to remember telephone number: 2-1-1. No more will you have to call all over the county looking for a place to give help or to find help. No more will social workers have to maintain a notebook that becomes outdated as soon as it is printed. Current information can be obtained online and downloaded. No more will you go without resources because you did not know where to call for help. You will simply need to dial three easy to remember numbers: 2-1-1.

On Thursday, March 17, 2005, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Citrus Springs Community Center, the new 2-1-1 service will be introduced to health and human services agencies, government agencies, and faith-based organizations offering counseling, food banks, clothes closets, soup kitchens or other emergency services. Applications will be available and can be completed with the staff to have agency/organization information entered into the database at no charge. Reservations are requested by calling Danielle Damato at 527-0090 ext.238 or damatod@citrus.k12.fl.us. .

2-1-1 is a free, multilingual information and referral line for the residents of Citrus County. Once it is launched in June, the service will be available any time, day or night. Some resources that will be offered are for elder services, food, shelter and clothing, volunteering and where to donate, physical and mental health services, and youth programs.

In the wake of Hurricanes Charlie, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne, 2-1-1 Call Centers became an invaluable Emergency Management tool in the Florida counties that had already established a Call Center. 2-1-1s expanded the capacity of Emergency Operation Centers (EOC) by providing trained information and referral specialists and by offering the public an alternative access point for information. 2-1-1s became critically needed clearing houses of information about the availability of services and the status of health and human service organizations and government agencies. 2-1-1s were able to spot unmet and emerging needs, helping direct resources to high priority places. 2-1-1s provided critically needed telephone reassurance and crisis support for callers, complementing the work of the EOCs. 2-1-1s helped mobilize and manage volunteers and cash and in-kind donations.

Once launched in June, 2-1-1 will also provide E-Citrus, an Internet mailing list to help human service providers in Citrus County to communicate electronically. Human service providers will be able to subscribe free and will be able to communicate community information such as local training opportunities, volunteer management issues, new programs/resources in the community, job opportunities at local human service agencies, potential grant/funding opportunities, coalition meeting dates and times, and other related topics. E-Citrus will serve as an electronic newsletter for human service professionals in Citrus County.

With this new service, Citrus County will be joining 34 counties, representing 78% of Florida's population able to access 2-1-1 in their community.

Two important facts: Cell phones users will not be able to dial 2-1-1 at this time but will have to use a 10-digit number in order to connect. Cell phone access is being work upon statewide.

Also, major businesses, hospitals, and educational facilities that use a PBX phone system will need to unblock this three digit number or callers will not be able to gain access. Callers will instead receive a busy tone.

A Speakers Bureau is available to speak to civic or social clubs on the new 2-1-1 system.

To arrange for a speaker, please call the United Way of Citrus County at 527-8894.

John Marmish is executive director of United Way of Citrus County. For more information, go to www.citrusunitedway.org.