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More local agencies need to be listed on 2-1-1

FARMINGTON — More than 300 callers in St. Francois County dialed 2-1-1 in the last year to find help. The United Way of Greater St. Louis oversees the operation of call centers that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are staffed by trained specialists to help residents get information on health and human services available to them. It’s free and confidential.

“We need more St. Francois County agencies to get listed on 2-1-1,” said Donna Hickman, executive director of the United Way of St. Francois County. “It does no good for people to call for help if the person who answers the phone doesn’t have a listing to know what services are available in our area.”

She said the number of calls is small and might have been greater if more services were listed. Hickman said she called as if she were a consumer in need when she dialed 2-1-1. She said the information is listed by ZIP code. When she asked for help with food, she found some local food pantries listed, but not all. When she asked for help with other services, there were no local listings at all for services she knew were available. She said she encourages all agencies who received funding from the local United Way to call and list their agencies.

It’s not only United Way funded agencies that are eligible to be included in 2-1-1, but all agencies that provide human services in St. Francois County. The St. Francois County Community Partnership is in the process of contacting local agencies to encourage them to list on 2-1-1.

Agency representatives may call 2-1-1 to find out how to get listed or may sign up at www.211missouri.org or find out more at www.stlunitedway.org. The Community Partnership located in The Factory at 200 W. First Street, Suite 182 in Farmington, can also provide  applications.

The United Way of Greater St. Louis lists 319 calls received from November of 2007 through November of 2008 inquiring about services available in St. Francois County.

To call using a cell phone, dial 1-800-427-4626. The information on help provided is not designed for those in emergency situations. In emergencies, call 9-1-1.

The 2-1-1 call specialists help people find health and human service assistance on everything from food and shelter to job counseling services, health resources, as well as everyday needs.  2-1-1 offers easy access to community-based organizations and government agencies that provide services such as mortgage information assistance, earned income tax credits and:

 Basic human needs resources: Food banks/pantries, clothing, and shelters.

 Mental and physical health resources: Medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention, rehabilitation, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health, children’s health insurance programs.

 Employment support: Financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, education programs.

 Support for older adults, people with disabilities: Home health care, adult day care, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, transportation, homemaker services.

 Support for children, youth and families: Quality childcare, Success by 6, after school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services.

• Volunteer/donor opportunities 

The program 2-1-1 is offered throughout Missouri by the United Way of Greater St. Louis and 10 other Missouri United Way partners. Funding is from Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) and United Way of Greater St. Louis. www.211missouri.org.

To find out more about 2-1-1, or the United Way of St. Francois County, contact Donna Hickman at donna@unitedwayofsfc.org. The United Way of St. Francois County office is expected to open early this month inside the LIFE Center for Independent Living at 739 E. Karsch Blvd., in Farmington.

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