211 Lake County - Year Two Review

Libertyville IL

28 September, 2021

5:33 PM

Description

United Way of Lake County marked the second anniversary of 211 services for Lake County last week with a 90-minute virtual event targeted to key stakeholders, partners, and community leaders. The event highlighted 211's measurable year two results and impact, including how the system has transformed the way individuals and families from across Lake County are connecting to essential health and human services to improve and save lives. The free, confidential, multilingual, 24-hour information and referral helpline was launched on September 24, 2019, by United Way of Lake County in collaboration with the county and many community partners. Lake County is the largest county in Illinois to have implemented 211. "Now there is an organized, efficient, professional and multilayered service that has made access to essential health and human services readily available by simply dialing three numbers: 2-1-1," said Marc L. Jones, Waukegan Township Supervisor, who served as host and moderator for the event. A panel of local government and human services experts discussed how 211 more efficiently connects people in need to a wide range of available resources, including Kelly Brown, Community Impact Officer at Interface Children & Family Services who manages the 211 Contact Center; Mayor Billy McKinney, City of Zion; Brenda O'Connell, Community Development Director for Lake County Government; Mary Lockhart White, Executive Director/CEO for Community Action Partnership of Lake County; and Anna Yankelev, Strategic Planning and Partnerships Manager for Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center. In its second year of service, 211 has made a combined total of 50,350 connections, including 10,780 calls and two-way texts to the 211 Contact Center and 39,570 visits to the 211LakeCounty.org website. During year two, the average monthly number of calls and texts to 211 grew to more than 900 per month with November through January trending even higher due to 211's involvement with rental assistance screenings. The number of calls to 211 in year two have far outpaced the number of calls in its first year of operation, with 27% of calls and texts taking place outside of normal business hours. 211 could not have come to Lake County at a better time. Since November 2020, 62% of the calls and texts were related to COVID-19. 211 reporting shows that calls and texts have been received from every zip code in Lake County. The Waukegan community represents a significant portion of the 211 contacts at 31% of overall contact volume, with Zion at 9% and Round Lake at 8.1%. The top needs presented have been housing and shelter, utilities, food, health care, mental health and addictions, and employment and income support. Housing and shelter needs are by far the top category with rent payment assistance consistently ranked as the top housing need each and every month since 211 launched. Lake County government responded by increasing funding for rent assistance through the COVID Housing Relief Program (CHRP) and more recently the Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (FERA). 211 has centralized and streamlined the rental assistance screening process to make it easier for individuals and families facing financial hardship to access resources. "211 has truly been a lifeline for tens of thousands of people across the county who have found themselves in crisis, including many who never thought they might need help," said Kristi Long, President & CEO, United Way of Lake County. "Last month, we reached a major milestone of 100,000 contacts to 211, which means 100,000 connections to critical services and help since we launched just two years ago. The community has clearly embraced 211 as Lake County's one-stop shop for help and awareness continues to grow." To access 211, simply call 211 or text your zip code to 898211. Resource navigators at the 211 Contact Center, who are experienced, trained specialists, will guide people to the help they deserve in their moments of need. The comprehensive 211 service is multilingual with English and Spanish speaking staff, as well as interpretations to more than 150 languages. To learn more about United Way of Lake County's 211, visit 211LakeCounty.org. To view or download the complete webinar recording, click here. To view or download the 211 Annual Report for FY2020-2021, click here.