Arkansas launches 2-1-1 community help system
Posted on Friday, May 9, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/64954/
LOWELL — Arkansas became the 17 th state to have a simple, three-digit number that connects residents to community services and volunteer opportunities.
On Thursday, United Ways across the state launched the 2-1-1 information and referral system.
Representatives from the United Way of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas Public Service Commission introduced the new system for the 479 area code in Lowell on Thursday.
2-1-1 is a free, easyto-remember number that connects residents with these services and opportunities. Individuals and families seeking social services can call 2-1-1, a nationally recognizable number that makes a connection between callers and the appropriate community-based organizations and government agencies, to allow them to get the help they need.
Users can also go to www. arkansas 211. org to access the same service.
“ As we know, Arkansas has a large rural population that does not have access to a large human-service network, ” said Nathan Cook, executive director of the Arkansas 2-1-1 system. “ Not only will it help getting much of this information out, but it will identify what services are needed most around the state. ”
Cook explained that thousands of evacuees from Hurricane Katrina are still living in Arkansas and need access to these services, which include food banks, shelters, utility assistance, mental health, employment, disability and senior-care services.
The free call will immediately connect people to a call center that will connect them with the service.
Arkansas 2-1-1 will be managed by the United Way of Arkansas Board of Directors and funded through local United Way contributions, foundation grants and private donations. The Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club foundations provided the seed money for the system through a grant of $ 600, 000, which has been matched by other contributors and United Way services.
The annual operating budget for the system is estimated to be $ 1. 4 million, said Angela Tilley, immediate past president of the United Ways of Arkansas. Two call centers will be operated in Arkansas — one in Pine Bluff and one in Springdale — through a partnership with the statewide Crisis Center.
Cook said that currently 95 percent of the state is covered by the 2-1-1 phone system and officials are working with all phone companies to allow for 100 percent coverage.
In addition, the 2-1-1 system at first will be accessible from 8 a. m. to 8 p. m., but plans are to make it available 24 hours a day in the next year, Cook said.