Help Starts Here
Arkansas 2-1-1 needs your help
As most service agencies and many 211 users are aware, the future of our system is problematic. Our recent failure to obtain public funding left us with the only system which has been completely capitalized by private sector contributions and the only 211 service in the contiguous Mid South states not receiving appropriated dollars.
We believe prospects are good that we will obtain public funding in the next cycle (both federal and state), but that appropriation would not be available - in all probability - until next year. We recognize unique economic events of the last 8 months have created a altered situation that made the initial encouraging response (to our inquiries about public funding) obsolescent. Hopefully that is temporary. As the economy improves we believe our prospects for funding - particularly given the escalating demand for services and use of 211 - will also improve.
In the interim, Arkansas United Ways has decided to attempt to sustain the service. In an environment where virtually all of them have experienced real reductions they are pursuing additional donor dollars specifically on our behalf. 211 has reduced its employment and operational costs, and will operate (near term) at essentially 50% of initial forecast budget. Starting June 1, 2009 our call center hours will be 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday. Our phone system after hours will direct you where to call in an emergency and it will allow you to leave a message if you want a return call on the next business day. The system will also direct you to the website at Arkansas211.org. That may result in some limitation on our prompt response - please bear with us.
You will also be receiving some correspondence from Jill Darling, United Way Chief Professional in Northwest Arkansas, requesting that you consider a donation/subscription (you pick the term) for listing/use in the 211 service. A $25 contribution from our institutional users would go a long way towards a) helping us exit our financial gap and b) testifying to the systems utility to the provider community.
If you're willing to help please let me know by responding to this email and/or Jill Darling's correspondence. And if you have any suggestions re our service or future let me know. Remittances should be made out to:
United Ways of Arkansas 211
PO Box 3257
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203.
Thank you for your consideration. If we are fortunate enough to sustain we will certainly try to make this system the best of its kind in the country and maximize its service potential. We believe that capacity is achievable in Arkansas.