On 02-11-09 the United Way of Bruce Grey launched 211 for Bruce and Grey Counties. While this is a true testing phase, service providers and residents were encouraged to begin utilizing the service immediately.

The United Way of Bruce Grey launched the service with an information session at the Bruce Power Visitors Centre. Bruce Power is the single largest donor to the United Way of Bruce Grey and the largest employer in the region.

The United Way of Bruce Grey has committed 10% of it’s campaign to the expansion and maintenance of the 211 system. To date the United Way has invested over $85 000 over the past 3 years, and a further $25 000 will be invested for 2009.

The 211 system will address many community needs and priorities. The United Way has already seen a significant positive impact from the use of Information Bruce Grey, which utilized the database of information that will support the 211 system.

Expanding the system to the full 211 will allow all residents full access both online and by telephone.

Addressing Community Priorities

Poverty reduction

One of the key pillars in poverty reduction strategies is access to information. Enabling clients, individuals and the general public to access the right service faster. The 211 services is almost an informal screening process, ensuring the caller, or website visitor, has all the information they need to proceed.

Ensuring people make the right decisions when first presented with a crisis reduces poverty, 211 enables people to be proactive and take control of their lives.

Efficiency

Access to the right information, in the right moment, ensures that agency that an organization’s staff is focused on the right task. Rather than spending time realizing that the client is in the wrong place for the wrong service, 211 ensures the client gets to the right place. This allows staff to better serve their core clients.

Seniors

As the population of Bruce and Grey ages, and more and more people elect to retire here, the demand for services, information along with an expectation of an urban level of service will increase. Through the use of 211, seniors will be able to better connect with the community, volunteer and slow the strain on the system.

Already 211 has been noted as an important service of the Aging At Home strategy locally.

Access to services in a rural community

As services are centralized to reduce costs, the issues of rural transportation grow stronger daily. With telephone and internet access to information and the ability to plan a course of action without having to leave home, will address many of the issues of living in a rural community.

Emergency services support

During community wide emergencies or crisis, the 211 system provides support to the community for non 911 related emergencies. Protocols are placed to ensure information flows between emergency services and the 211 call centre, enabling 211 to offer non 911 emergency supports to the community. Examples of this would be warming centres during winter blackouts, cooling centres during heat waves, access to clean water during boil water advisories etc.

Accessibility

Both 211 online and 211 telephone systems will be compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. Aligning the 211 delivery system with county services will ensure further compliance for the counties.

Data

Due to the detailed technical nature of the 211 system, there is a significant amount of data that can be pulled form the system. This enables long term as well as short term planning.

For more information please contact Francesca Dobbyn at 519 376 1560 or Community Connections (211 Service Provider) at 705.444.0040 x 234,