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United Way Silicon Valley, 2-1-1 SCC Resource
Database Specialist
Fax: (408) 345-4301, Email: 211@uwsv.org
2-1-1 is a free, non-emergency, confidential service that operates
24 hours a day, seven days a week, in English, Spanish, Vietnamese,
Tagalog, Mandarin, and 140 other languages. For everyday needs and
in times of crisis, 2-1-1 provides streamlined access to critical
health and human services such as food, shelter, counseling, drug
and alcohol intervention, employment assistance, and so much more.
It also serves as a link for individuals seeking to volunteer, provide
resources, or assist during a crisis in Santa Clara County.
2-1-1 is also a valuable tool when disasters strike because people
can quickly and easily receive critical information.
2-1-1 Santa Clara County is an information and referral service
for everyone in the community regardless of income; it is available
to the public 24-hours a day, seven days per week, in English, Spanish
and 140 other languages. People call for a variety of reasons:
* Adult children seeking services for elderly parents
* People wanting to donate time, money, or goods
* Laid-off workers struggling to feed their families
* People impacted by a disaster trying to connect with loved ones
In Santa Clara County, 2-1-1 calls are answered
by 2-1-1 Call Specialists, who have accurate information available
24-hours a day, seven days
per week, in English, Spanish and 140 other languages. To ensure
all calls are answered in a timely manner,
calls will be answered at Interface Family and Children Services
by experienced call specialists, who have access to the same information
as our local specialists.
More than 207 million Americans in 41 states are benefiting from
their local 2-1-1 information and referral service. The remaining
states are in the process of developing a 2-1-1 service or expanding
as is the case in California. To date, 17 states have statewide 2-1-1
coverage; California offers service in the following areas: Los Angeles,
San Diego, Orange County, Riverside, Ventura, San Francisco, San
Bernardino, and Santa Clara County (February 11, 2007).
United Way Silicon Valley’s 2-1-1 program is launching on
February 11, 2007, coinciding with National 2-1-1 Day. Once available,
Santa Clara County residents will have access to accurate information
24-hours a day, seven days per week, in English, Spanish and 140
other languages.
Since 2001, United Way Silicon Valley led the effort to bring 2-1-1
to Santa Clara County. The California Public Utilities Commission
application for the three-digit number was approved in September
2006, legally allowing the use of 2-1-1 as a three-digit code in
Santa Clara County. Prior to 2001, a community led committee tried
to bring 2-1-1 to the county.
Based on educated estimates, United Way Silicon Valley and its advisory
committee anticipate 2-1-1 will cost $1.3 million annually to offer
the service to the 1.7 million people living in Santa Clara County.
Through its unique partnership with Interface, the call center in
Ventura County, United Way Silicon Valley maximized public and private
funding by eliminating the expense of developing a full local center,
while still offering quality service and accurate information. United
Way has also developed a revenue plan to ensure it is available local
residents now and for years to come.
2-1-1 SCC is being funded through an innovative Public/Private Venture.
United Way Silicon Valley raised funds from government entities,
private donors, corporations, and community-based organizations.
United Way’s Board of Directors approved an initial investment
of $150,000 a year for two years that was used as “seed” money
to launch fundraising activities.
United Way Silicon Valley led the effort to bring 2-1-1 to Santa
Clara County and now, is one of its authorized programs. A revenue
plan is in place to support the information and referral service
to ensure it is available to help local people for years to come.
A robust information/referral service for the community is critical
as a foundation for United Way’s new investment strategies
related to stability and economic self-sufficiency.
United Way Silicon Valley’s most recent needs assessment underscores
the types of services required by people in Santa Clara County. The
information and referral service aligns with United Way Silicon Valley’s
community investment strategy by providing a critical link for local
people to hundreds of community services simply by calling 2-1-1.
Local people can receive accurate information in English, Spanish,
and 140 other languages, in their search for food, shelter, counseling,
and education, among many other topics.
As United Way Silicon Valley transforms itself from a traditional
fundraising institution to a progressive community solutions provider,
2-1-1 supports its work to increase stability and economic self-sufficiency
for people living in Santa Clara County.
Some workplaces block "N11" calls like 411 because
they charge callers, but 2-1-1 is free. If your business has an internal
phone system or PBX, it may need to be programmed to recognize 2-1-1
as a valid and complete number. Find out more about it here.
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