211 Connected -June 2023

Bi-partisan Introduction of the HELP Act in the US Senate and House

Credit to: Sarah Berthelot, President & CEO of Louisiana Association of United Ways and 211 State Leadership Collaborative Chair

There has been an exciting development on Capitol Hill which involves 211 that will be of great interest to you and your state networks. Please help share this update with your colleagues.

This development is the first bipartisan introduction of the HELP Act in the House and Senate since 2009!

Bipartisan Introduction of the Human-services Emergency Logistics Program (HELP) Act in the US Senate and House

On Thursday, May 18, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) along with Congressman Brian Higgins (D-NY-26) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1) introduced the bipartisan and bicameral “Human-services Emergency Logistics Program Act of 2023,” also known as the “HELP Act”. The HELP Act, which United Way Worldwide has publicly endorsed, will facilitate increased nationwide accessibility and coordination of 211 services and 988 services to provide information and referrals throughout the United States for mental health emergencies, homelessness, and other human service needs.

The HELP Act will connect people in communities with the human-services and mental health resources they need while reducing the call and response burden on local and state law enforcement agencies.

It would:

Divert non-criminal, non-fire, and non-medical emergency calls from 911 systems to state and regional 211 and 988 systems.
Provide each state with funds to build out its 211 and 9-8-8 referral systems to link callers to both emergency and long-term human-services and mental health resources to address their needs. Special emphasis would be placed on responses for mental health emergencies, homelessness needs, and other non-criminal emergencies. In addition, the 211 system will serve as a robust resource and referral system capable of linking individuals and families to other human-services needs such as food assistance and childcare.
Create an oversight system for the 211 and 988 networks comprised of community members who represent older adults, people with disabilities, people of color, and members of other communities. Each system will be evaluated every year and recommendations to improve services will be made public.

As the HELP Act moves through Congress, United Way Worldwide looks forward to working with Senator Casey, Senator Moran, Congressman Higgins, and Congressman Fitzpatrick as well as elected officials on both sides of the aisle to support this important piece of legislation that will greatly strengthen both the 211 and 988 networks and their ability to connect people with vital health and human services. Moving forward, United Way will also share ways for the Network to be involved and engaged in building support for this legislation.

Below is a link to the one-page overview on the Human-services Emergency Logistics (HELP) Act from Senator Casey.

Overview of the HELP Act

3 Numbers to Remember

Knowing who to call and when, is extremely crucial to getting the right kind of help.

211 Is Connection

211 specialists continue to answer the call for many residents needing assistance.

During the month of May more than 3,947 resident calls were received and more than 4,162 resident referrals for services were made.

The most requested services were in the following categories: Housing, Food and, Utilities. Under the housing category, rent assistance was the most requested need.

Employee Spotlight:

Keeley Shaw-Zuver

Keeley Shaw-Zuver joined United Way of Greater Cincinnati in August of 2022 as a Resources Associate.

Keeley has a bachelor’s degree in Ciminology & Justice Studies from Kent State University, and she is currently pursuing her Master of Public Administration at the University of Cincinnati.

Prior to joining UWGC, Keeley supported families in Campbell County as a Social Service Worker in the child welfare system. She also worked as an Administrative Program Specialist at Hamilton County Job and Family Services within the Children’s Services division.

Keeley serves as a referral specialist for kynect resources for the Northern Kentucky region. In addition to her work with kynect and other Kentucky United Way partners, she curates resources for over 250 agencies across four counties.

In Keeley's time at UWGC, she has worked diligently to enhance the kynect resources platform to provide the best experience for community partners and residents.

Additionally, Keeley has built strong relationships with key community partners, supported follow up with residents to ensure adequate resources were provided, and completed annual updates for over 130 agencies in Kentucky.

Keeley is a tremendous asset to United Way. She is committed to providing the highest quality resources and dedicated to the well-being of the residents of Northern Kentucky.

Special Recognition:

United Way of The Bluegrass

United Way of the Bluegrass had a very busy tax season assisting residents with tax preparation. From January 23' thru the beginning of June 23', UWBG's 211-contact center received 1,920 calls from residents needing assistance with their taxes. The calls ranged from residents asking tax related questions to receiving help through the VITA Program. We're proud of the work the 211 staff does every day.

Great job Team Bluegrass!

Powering kynect Resources

Kynect resources continues to experience an increase in the number of residents and community partners using the platform, and we expect those numbers to continue grow. Although there are many systems that interface with kynect resources, United Way's integrated 211 database has been instrumental in this growth.

The United Way 211 staff works diligently to curate and update information in the 211 databases; and the specialists are routinely involved in community outreach to residents and community partners; often attending community events to share information about the 211 program and kynect resources. Additionally, specialists spend time assisting residents through the process of getting referrals addressed in kynect resources and assists community partners with training and onboarding to the platform. Our 211 specialists can also create referrals in kynect resources when needed.

The dedicated work of the 211-kynect team and the support staff has helped to enhance the use of the platform for the end user.

Kynect Launches Incentive Initiative

On Friday, June 2nd, kynect resources in partnership with Kentucky United Ways-211, launched its Incentive Initiative which is a program that reimburses organizations for activity they complete in kynect resources. Onboarded organizations, also called Community Partners, are reimbursed one time for onboarding to kynect resources and monthly for closed referral activity and completed assessments.

Participating Organizations must be an approved United Way, not for profit organization, actively providing support services and programs within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. These organizations are identified by the United Way and kynect resources system, so they do not need to register to participate. Exclusions: State agencies, for profit organizations, for profit hospitals are not included in the Incentive Initiative.

Community Organizations must be an onboarded user of kynect resources and acknowledge updated terms and conditions upon initial login after the Incentive Initiative's June 2023 launch date.

Bi-partisan Introduction of the HELP Act in the US Senate and House

3 Numbers to Remember

Employee Spotlight:

Read more about the Kynect Resources Incentive Initiative using the link below.