New Telephone System to Connect Arkansans to Services, Volunteer Opportunities

New Telephone System to Connect Arkansans to Services, Volunteer Opportunities

Governor Mike Beebe today announced a new statewide telephone system, "Arkansas 2-1-1," that, beginning this summer, will connect Arkansans with community-assistance programs and volunteer opportunities.

"Just as important as having effective social services is making sure that the people who need them know about them," Beebe said. "This cooperative effort will provide Arkansans with a single, easy-to-remember number they can call to find assistance or volunteer to help provide it."

While Arkansas will be the 42nd state to implement a 2-1-1 service, it will be only the 17th to offer it statewide. Arkansas 2-1-1 will be operated by the United Ways of Arkansas and is funded through local United Way contributions, federal grants and private donations.

A task force including representatives of United Way, the Arkansas Public Service Commission, the Arkansas Municipal League and Arkansas businesses worked together to plan the 2-1-1 system. The Wal-Mart and Sam's Club Foundation issued the initial challenge grant of $600,000 to the initiative.

"We've taken our time implementing this service in Arkansas to ensure that it's done correctly," said Daryl Bassett of the Arkansas Public Service Commission. "The ultimate benefit is that we'll provide a great quality of service to the people who need it most."

The services that Arkansans will be able to access through 2-1-1 include:

Food banks, Meals on Wheels, clothing closets, shelters and rent and utility assistance.
Health insurance programs, medical-information lines, Medicaid and Medicare, ARKids First, maternal health, counseling and support-group services, drug-and-alcohol intervention and rehabilitation.
Child care, after-school programs, Head Start, family-resource centers, mentoring and tutoring, recreational programs and protective services.
Adult day care, respite care, home health care and transportation.
Job training, transportation and education programs.
Volunteer opportunities and donations.
The annual operating budget for Arkansas 2-1-1 is approximately $1 million for the first two years. Call centers will initially operate in Pine Bluff and Bentonville.

http://www.governor.arkansas.gov/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&news_id=43