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Westmoreland County Improves Information and Referral Services Assistance Now
Available 24/7; Key Move Toward 211
Posted
10-17-2006 Westmoreland County residents in need of assistance now have help 24
hours a day / seven days per week. The county's Information and Referral
Help Line, in conjunction with Westmoreland Human Opportunities, Inc. (WHO)
and the United Way of Westmoreland County, is now offering around-the-clock
service through the toll-free county Help Line at 800-222-8848.
"While this improvement may at the surface seem relatively minor, it
immensely important for those who need help. It simplifies the process for
families who need crisis assistance or intervention in the late night/early
morning hours, and eliminates the need for multiple calls or the frustration
of voice mail," said Tom Balya, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. "It
is also the first step in what we hope will eventually be a statewide 211
information and referral system." 211 operates much like the
911 emergency system, and is in use in other parts of the country. The
United Way is leading efforts to bring a 211 system to Pennsylvania.
Access to health and human services agencies came out as a high priority in
the 2003 United Way survey. In fact, Westmoreland Human Opportunities polled
its clients and found that on average it takes four calls until a family is
connected with the agency it needs. Many communities have a well-publicized
24/7 information and referral phone number that connects people to the help
they need, but until today, Westmoreland did not. This summer, the County
Commissioners, Westmoreland Human Opportunities, the United Way and Catholic
Charities began to discuss making it happen in Westmoreland.
"In initial conversations over the summer it quickly became clear that a
24/7 information and referral line was an important but missing part of
access to services in Westmoreland County," said Nancy Kukovich, president
of the United Way of Westmoreland County. "We had information and referral
phone services, but none of them were 24/7. Within a few months, we worked
to put it together, and at no additional cost. We thank the County
Commissioners, Catholic Charities and Westmoreland Human Opportunities for
their efforts to make this a reality." Pennsylvania is only 1
of 12 states whose residents do not yet have access to information and
referral statewide by dialing 211, or on-line access at 211.org. Like 911
and 411, the Federal Communications Commission has designated the
three-digit exchange for health and human service information nationally,
but only if 60 percent of the country is covered by 2007. Pennsylvania's
participation will achieve the 60 percent goal.
Until then, Westmoreland County's partnership with WHO will
fill the 24/7 void. Through a single toll-free telephone number county
Information and Referral staff will field calls during regular Courthouse
hours, with WHO's Crisis Intervention staff handling after-hours calls.
"Our county has been in need of 24/7 information and
referral services for some time now,” said Tay Waltenbaugh, CEO of
Westmoreland Human Opportunities, the county's community action agency. "We
are pleased with the progress so far. The consistency with calls, referrals
and assistance has been very good with very capable staff."
The county's information and referral toll-free Help Line has been in
existence for 20 years. The Help Line focuses on a variety of topics,
including, but not limited, to the $ Energy Fund and energy assistance;
rental assistance; flu shot and Health Department information; welfare; and
food stamps. For more on the statewide information and
referral network, visit
www.211.org. |
