 |
| The Calling 2-1-1 Act |
July 21, 2004 |
| |
With over 820,000 nonprofit agencies in the United States, finding the correct one in a time of need can be a daunting task. Individuals and families find it a difficult task to navigate the maze of organizations that offer assistance. Recognizing this need the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta launched the first 2-1-1 service in 1997. The program has since grown and as of January 2004, 28% of the United States had access to the service. A new bill in the House, Calling for 2-1-1 Act, being cosponsored by Heather will provide federal monies to states in order to extend this service.
 2-1-1 assists those in need to find human services and programs that can offer them assistance. Programs in areas ranging from domestic violence, housing, high-quality day care, after school and summer activities, job training and assistance and disaster recovery would be easily accessible thru 2-1-1. Directors of these and other programs have indicated that there exists a need for a simple way to connect those eligible for these types of programs to the resources that are available. Because the resources available vary in each community, it is important that the call centers be localized in order to offer the most accurate information.
On September 11th, 2001, 2-1-1 was a vital resource in areas that provided the service. In Connecticut, call volume increased 20 percent after the attacks and 2-1-1 became a victims` assistance line for the families of Connecticut residents lost in the World Trade Center. In Atlanta, 2-1-1 helped connect stranded air travelers with volunteers willing to welcome them into their homes.
The Calling for 2-1-1 Act would allocate $200 million dollars in federal funds that would help states establish and maintain 2-1-1 call centers. States would be required to appoint a lead agency, if one does not already exist, to develop an implementation plan. States would also be required to provide matching  funds of 50% in order to receive the federal aid.
The 2-1-1 service was established in New Mexico by the United Way of Central New Mexico. While now servicing only the Albuquerque area, a statewide group is currently working on extending the coverage throughout all of New Mexico.
By Scott Griffin
Griffin is studying Computer Science at the University of New Mexico. He is working as an intern during the summer semester in Congresswoman Heather Wilson’s Albuquerque office. He hopes to attend to law school after his undergraduate studies are finished.
|
|
|
|