22
Community Connector
to Health & Human Services
WORDS: Christina Russi, CIRS/CRS
Community Liaison at The Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center
As families in the Tri-County region
begin a new school year and
everyday stresses mount, 211
has the information they may be looking
for to help minimize those concerns, and
give answers to their pressing questions
of how and where to find help in difficult
times, with difficult situations.
Increasingly, we want resources to
assist us as we navigate the world of
modern parenting. We seek to build
close relationships with our children;
to provide them with the skills to cope
with new childhood stressors and with
services to assist with the resolution of
communication and relationship issues.
211 has service referrals for those parents
in search of information and help.
Yes, 211 is one of those three-digit phone
numbers, like 911 or 411; a quick dial to
information and assistance. In 2018, it is
much more, as technology has allowed
for its expansion and greater reach in our
communities with multiple media options
like text, online chat, and an accessible
online database to search at your leisure.
From the outside, the social services
networking community can seem a maze
of services and programs with limited
access. 211 is an information and referral
program helping individuals, families and
communities identify, understand and
effectively use the programs that are out
there and available to the public.
Professional, well-trained Navigators/
Information and Referral Specialists can
help you better organize your problems
and make informed decisions about
workable solutions. Each person receives
an individual assessment of need,
clarification of their situation, information,
referrals, problem-solving assistance,
crisis intervention where needed, and
advocacy to ensure
that people receive the
benefits and services for
which they are eligible.
The 211 service offers
a platform - a voice - to
those in need to express
their concerns, request
assistance, and receive
a non-judgmental, compassionate
response. It is available 24/7, it’s FREE,
and it’s confidential, with policies in place
to ensure the privacy and security of
personal inquirer information.
The contact center offers information
and referrals to meet needs for food,
utility bill payment assistance, rental
payment assistance, mental health care,
addiction recovery services, amongst
many other essentials, with its over 1800
listed services/programs in the resource
database. All the resources are carefully
reviewed to ensure verification of the
information about an organization and
its programs.