Leading Local Non-Profits Sign Pact to Launch 2-1-1

Community to Benefit from New Information and Referral Service

Santa Rosa, CA (July 8, 2008) – Two of Sonoma County’s leading non-profits, Volunteer Center of Sonoma County and United Way of the Wine Country recently signed a historic agreement to implement 2-1-1 phone service in Sonoma County.

2-1-1 will be a toll-free, easy-to-remember phone number that connects Sonoma County residents with call specialists trained to match the caller’s needs with local community services such as child care, flu-shot information, employment assistance, counseling, food, shelter, volunteer opportunities and much more. 2-1-1 will also be an integral component of Sonoma County’s disaster-response infrastructure.

In October 2007, Southern California communities experienced first-hand the role 2-1-1 can play during a disaster. Twenty separate wildfires consumed large parts of six Southern California counties; in all, more than 500,000 people would be evacuated from homes in San Diego County alone. Information about evacuations, shelters, and road closures changed by the minute. From October 21 through October 25, 2007, more than 130,000 calls to 2-1-1 were answered in the counties of Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, San Bernardino and Ventura. In a single day, October 24^th, the six call centers answered more than 41,000 calls. Unlike other types of disasters, wildfires pose the challenges of shifting evacuations, growing fire threats and simultaneous situations of response and recovery.

Having a centralized, 24-hour call center like 2-1-1 can mitigate these challenges, particularly here in Sonoma County, where the threat of natural disasters abounds.

"The partnership between United Way and the Volunteer Center ensures that Sonoma County will have 2-1-1 services in 2009. By joining forces to work together, we can ensure a higher level of services for all citizens in our community," said Eunice Valentine, Executive Director for the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County.

Walter Collins, President and CEO of United Way of the Wine Country, said “This will make finding help in Sonoma County easier than ever.  By simply dialing 2-1-1, residents can quickly connect with local community services that meet their needs.” He also noted that without 2-1-1, people often make up to 10 phone calls before finding the correct service, and many give up before getting the help they need. “2-1-1 will also reduce the number of non-emergency calls to 9-1-1,” he added.

2-1-1 will also serve as a community research and planning tool by documenting the needs of every caller. This will provide a live daily snapshot of Sonoma County’s most pressing needs, enabling organizations to direct efforts and resources where they are most needed.

2-1-1 Sonoma County is a public-private partnership between the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County, United Way of the Wine Country, the Community Foundation Sonoma County and the County of Sonoma.  Founder’s Circle partners include Pacific Gas and Electric Company and local law firm Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery