About 2-1-1
2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember, free-to-the-user phone number linking people with the services they need. 2-1-1 provides connections to hundreds of resources such as…
Food, family supportive services, youth programs, utility/housing assistance, special needs transportation, educational opportunities, prescription assistance, legal aide, veterans’ affairs, career help, low-cost medical/dental care, support for elderly citizens, governmental services, public records, substance abuse/domestic violence resources, information about local disasters and crisis situations, and so much more!
2-1-1 also functions as a volunteer center, linking those who wish to donate their time to organizations needing help.
The Manistee County Action Team, a highly-trained volunteer board, provides oversight and the personal touch between the 2-1-1 database, organizations, and neighbors in need.
2-1-1, an initiative of United Way of Manistee County in collaboration with the Manistee County Human Services Collaborative Body, is funded through private and public partnerships and individual donations. At this time, 2-1-1 receives no state or federal funding.
Call Center reports include detailed statistics about the type of help our community members need, providing area agencies with vital information that can be used to respond to real-world needs.
2-1-1 Results
Situation: American Red Cross West Shore Chapter volunteer responds to house fire and gives 2-1-1 card to single (now homeless) mother.
Result: Within a few days, all needs including housing, clothing, food, etc, were met by making one initial phone call to 2-1-1.
Result: Red Cross has changed its response policy, utilizing 2-1-1 to help victims navigate the health and human resources system.
Situation: Low income client visits MI Works learning lab regularly. Learning lab counselor notices the client doesn’t have glasses and cannot see to read the paperwork. Counselor encourages young man to call 2-1-1 on the spot.
Result: Young man receives free, complex prescription glasses through a program included in the 2-1-1 system.
Result: Client now has renewed confidence, has been accepted into a construction program and will receive his construction certificate and general education diploma by August 2011 - increasing his opportunities for success.
Result: Learning lab counselor is better informed about a vital community resource that can help other underprivileged clients.
Situation: Quarterly report of unmet community needs from 2-1-1 is shared with leaders at Human Services Collaborative Body meeting.
Result: Department of Human Services and 2-1-1 discuss poverty issues and discover alternative funding available to assist people with crisis situations.
Result: Database is enhanced through local collaboration of 2-1-1 and human service agencies.
Situation: 83 year old woman living alone on the edge of poverty is persuaded by door-to-door salesmen to purchase expensive supplemental insurance she cannot afford.
Result: Daughter-in-law calls 2-1-1, receives referral to a senior resource and makes an appointment for mother-in-law.
Result: Counselor at senior resource reviews insurance plan, cancels the expensive plan, enrolls client in new less costly insurance.
Result: Counselor proceeds to review client’s prescriptions and enrolls her in low cost medication program plus helps her find food assistance. After accessing the 2-1-1 system, client was saved hundreds of dollars every year and was relieved of unnecessary financial burden.
2-1-1 Action Team
Kurt Balzuweit, Chair
West Shore Medical Center
Shari Wild, Vice Chair
Jason Verheek, Treasurer
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, United Way of Manistee County
Ken Falk
Manistee County Emergency Management
Cheryl Griffin
District #10 Health Department
Thom Hawley
West Shore Community College
Ken Hilliard
Manistee County Board of Commissioners
Major Dale Hixenbaugh
The Salvation Army
Major Joann Hixenbaugh
The Salvation Army
Chip Johnston
Manistee-Benzie Community Mental Health
Clara Kahle
Manistee County Community Foundation, West Shore Community College Board of Trustees
Kristine Lagios
Department of Human Services
Sharron Lemmer
Manistee County Human Services Collaborative Body
Bill Memberto
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
Cosette Schaefer
Deparment of Human Services
Corey VanFleet
United Way of Manistee County
Shari Wild
Love INC
Mary Kaye Wilkosz
Northwestern Bank
Glenn Zaring
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Public Safety Advisory Board
Advisory Members
Jim Espvik
Central Dispatch
Susan Howell
Community Access Line of the Lakeshore (CALL 2-1-1)
Sherry Miller
Michigan 2-1-1