In This Month's Newsletter |
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- Welcome Lennae Scott!
- Drumroll: New PSA Campaign Coming Soon!
- NDP Webinar and Q&A Open Hours
- 211 Network Survey - Caregiving Work
- Equity In Action Grant Program
- CMS Funding Opportunity
- Pride Month: Coming Out of Closets
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Special Feature: 211 & the Modern United Way - Best in Class Fundraising, Impact, Content, Digital Experiences and Volunteer
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ICYMI: Child Tax Credit Awareness Day, White House Pride Proclamation & More!
- What We Are Reading & Watching
- Upcoming Virtual Events & Past Recordings
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Welcome to #TEAM211 Lennae Scott |
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We are pleased to announce that Lennae Scott has joined the 211 Team as Lead Associate, 211. Before joining UWW, Lennae worked as a shift supervisor at Community Crisis Services in Hyattsville, MD—the local 211 for Southern Maryland—as well as a contact center for numerous other hotlines including The Trevor Project, MyFreeTaxes, and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. She brings a wealth of experience in case management and crisis response. Striving to be an asset to her community, Lennae has acquired 11 years of public services experience to include, housing, case management (mental health and runaway youth), care coordination and crisis call center experience. Outside of work, hobbies include yoga, walking, and her newest interest, photography. We are thrilled to have Lennae join us in support of 211's COVID-19 response, including Ride United's Vaccine Access program. |
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Drumroll: New 211 PSA Campaign
Coming to America this July!
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You may have heard a bit about the new 211 public service advertising (PSA) campaign scheduled to launch mid-July, but here’s your chance to get all the details! On Monday, June 21 from 2-3 pm ET, join leaders from United Way Worldwide, the Ad Council, and the Walton Isaacson agency. We’ll share the thinking behind the campaign, the “rough cuts” and tools being curated to help you amplify the brand lift in your community. To register for the webinar, click here. There will also be a webinar on the PSA Assets Friday, July 9 from 2-3 pm ET, to register for the webinar click here.
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NDP Webinar/Q&A Open Hours
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United Way Worldwide’s National 211 Data Platform complements the work of local 211s by bringing people and services together more efficiently. The platform will generate significant benefit for the public and its members, and align to the mission, values and standards of the non-profit information and referral sector. It will consolidate data managed locally from front-line systems to create a read-only repository of high-quality resource data that conforms to industry standards and enables a range of services designed to maximize the public value of 211 information. Please join us Thursday, June 24th at 2 pm ET, for an informational webinar that will present the benefits of the National Data Platform and provide answers to any questions you may have as you consider participating. Please register for the meeting here.
In addition to the webinar, we will host monthly NDP Open Status Update/QA Sessions starting July 29, 2021 at 2 pm ET/ 11 am PT. Additional sessions will also be hosted on August 19th, September 16th and October 21st. During these meetings we will provide an update on the work of the National Data Platform and troubleshoot/answer any questions you may have. We will also share use cases, how to navigate style-guide concerns, national listings, and bi-directional updates.
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211 Network Survey – Caregiving Work
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In August 2020 the 211 Team launched a pilot project with AARP to support local teams in building a proactive engagement program that aims to reach informal caregivers within their service area. Each team built a unique implementation plan and is working alongside partners to identify, recruit and support caregivers in their community proactively via: text, email, phone, mail and/or IM providing. The goal of the project was to reduce stress and increase access to essential information and resources for the benefit of caregivers and their families.
This work supports not only this unique population but is helping to build insight and understanding for wider project development. Ultimately, we know that when the subject matter expertise of 211 navigators is applied proactively to upstream client needs, we can make a real difference in the lives of the communities we serve. As we look ahead, we would love to know more from you, the network, about the work you are doing and/or want to be doing in this area. If you could take a few minutes to have a representative from your organization complete the following survey, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you as always and if you have questions or would like to learn more you can reach out to Hilary Palotay. We will also be running a webinar on the project August 11th – details to follow in the July Newsletter.
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Equity-In-Action Grant Program
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Cambridge Systematics is driven to improve society through objective leadership in transportation. One way they achieve this is by grounding their work in the distinct principles and purpose that drive the ability meet the challenges of advancing an equitable future through transportation. Cambridge Systematics has an unwavering commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within their company and in communities. The Equity-In-Action grant program is designed to help select nonprofit and grassroots community-based organizations advance their equity goals by providing them access to proprietary data and consulting services.
The Equity-In-Action grant program can support a range of projects, from studying how disadvantaged communities move and access critical resources, to equitable recovery from COVID-19, research that addresses inequities in the transportation system, and strengthening other equity-focused grant applications. Find out more about this opportunity and how to apply, here.
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the 2021 Navigator Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which will make $80 million in grant funding available to Navigators in states with a Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM) for the 2022 plan year. This is the largest funding allocation CMS has made available for Navigator grants to date. With the additional funding, CMS encourages current and past Navigators to apply, especially those that focus on education, outreach, and enrollment efforts to underserved and diverse communities.
A Navigator's mission is to increase awareness among the uninsured about affordable health care coverage options available and assist consumers through and beyond the Marketplace enrollment process. The increased grant funding is available to applicants seeking to serve as Navigators in states with an FFM. The application details the eligibility requirements, required duties and the available funding amount to applicants for this Navigator grant cycle.
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Coming Out of Closets
Blog Post: Joshua Pedersen, Interim Senior Director, 211
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A few years ago Ash Beckham came to my community and spoke about coming out of closets. She mentioned that “coming out” is something for our LGBTQ+ friends as well as many others that go through hard conversations often leaving us feeling exposed or vulnerable. It was validating to my coming out story and also opened my eyes to others coming out of their respective isolation. It’s a great Ted Talk and I invite you to watch it here.
During PRIDE month as we celebrate diversity and stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ community, let us acknowledge the amazing work our network provides to people everywhere coming out of closets and difficult situations. Diversity is a benchmark of our 211 network and PRIDE month is a beautiful celebration highlighting this work.
We are particularly proud of United Way of Greater Atlanta 211, 211 Los Angeles, Jewish Community Services 211 of South Florida and 211 Broward (FL) that have formal relationships with their local LGBTQ+ centers. Some 211s answer LGBTQ+ specific hotlines in their communities like Trevor Project, and here at UWW we have a partnership with the SAGE hotline, an LGBTQ+ service for seniors, that is subcontracted to our 211 team in Broward.
To the members of our 211 team who identify as LGBTQ+, we celebrate you and invite you to bring the fullest version of yourself to our network – even if it’s sometimes hard to come out of the closet – we welcome you with open arms every day. Happy Pride Month.
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Special Feature: 211 & the Modern United Way - Best In Class: Fundraising, Impact, Content, Digital Experiences and Volunteer Opportunities |
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This is the eighth installment in a series highlighting how your 211 can evolve and complement a Modern United Way and highlight network best practices.
Featuring: Best In Class: Fundraising, Impact, Content, Digital Experiences and Volunteer Opportunities
Fundraising is a key component in building sustainable futures for any nonprofit. As competition increases, securing funding has become more and more difficult given that we are all competing for the same pots of funding. Thinking outside our normal scope of fundraising has become increasingly common and important. Seeking corporate partnerships to provide innovative ways to provide solutions to the problems within our communities can prove beneficial to both parties. These partnerships can unlock new opportunities for your agency and expand your influence within your community.
Here are some ways that Corporate Partnerships can positively impact your agency:
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Generate Revenue – Of course, the number one benefit of corporate partnerships is the generation of revenue. Larger corporate donations may be key to sustaining and growing our programs. Many corporate giving programs are focused on specific issues that your 211 may address (i.e. health, children, food). Invite corporations to pay for staff training – and staff to answer the phone – related to the issues they care about.
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Cultivate A Stable Volunteer Force– Establishing an employee volunteer program with a corporate partner allows employees to have direct access to volunteer opportunities through their place of work, granting your agency a consistent stream of volunteers throughout the year. Year-round engagement is important to drive donations and long-time donors. If volunteers are not able to answer phones, use volunteers to update data, as brand ambassadors, serve on ad-hoc committees and support quality assurance activities.
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Enhanced Operations – Amazon Web Services is offering guidance to the 211 Network to create chatbots for commonly asked questions. This simple innovation can help 211 contact centers in managing call volume. Businesses can provide your nonprofit with some essential skills, resources, technology or personnel you may be lacking.
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Access to a Broader Audience – The Ad Council and the Walton Isaacson agency are in the process of creating PSA’s that will benefit the 211 Network. The creative perspective will provide greater visibility and inspire action across the nation. Cause marketing is a win-win for nonprofits and businesses because both stand to gain serious marketing benefits and increased profits.
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Rapid Systemic Change – UWW’s partnership with Lyft has assisted in addressing transportation as a barrier across countless communities. This partnership has evolved in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to include meal delivery and most recently vaccine access. While tackling a problem alone may seem easier, we must admit that progress is much slower. Corporate partnerships allow us to develop a coordinated strategy together to help bring about more rapid change.
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ICYMI: Child Tax Credit Awareness Day, White House Pride Proclamation & More! |
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- White House Announces Child Tax Credit Awareness Day
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The Biden-Harris administration announced that Monday, June 21, will be Child Tax Credit Awareness Day—a day of action to get the word out far and wide on the upcoming monthly payments that will benefit nearly all families. As part of Child Tax Credit Awareness Day, the administration encourages elected officials, organizations that fight for children, and faith-based organizations, to help low-income families. Many families with low incomes can use a new, easy Child Tax Credit sign-up tool to help give their children a lifeline out of poverty. We recognize this event occurs on the same day as United Way's Day of Action. If possible, seek ways to incorporate both initiatives into your activities and share for community awareness.
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Official White House LGBTQ+ Pride Proclamation
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President Joe Biden issued an official White House LGBTQ Pride proclamation on June 1, 2021, the first since President Barack Obama. Check out the proclamation here.
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Tell Me A Story
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As a network we have worked so hard and this year we have experienced some AMAZING wins. It is so exciting to see how far we have come. #TEAM211 wants to share your inspiring stories in the newsletter monthly. We would like to feature your hard work and success and share it to motivate our colleagues. Please use this link to share your stories. We encourage you to include photos!
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Child Tax Credit 2021
- There have been important changes to the Child Tax Credit that will help many families receive advance payments starting this summer. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 expands the Child Tax Credit (CTC) for tax year 2021 only.
- The expanded credit means:
- The credit amounts will increase for many taxpayers.
- The credit for qualifying children is fully refundable, which means that taxpayers can benefit from the credit even if they don't have earned income or don't owe any income taxes.
- The credit will include children who turn age 17 in 2021.
- Taxpayers may receive part of their credit in 2021 before filing their 2021 tax return.
Read more here, for valuable information regarding the Child Tax Credit.
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What We Are Reading & Watching
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Upcoming Virtual Events & Past Recordings |
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- Lupus & You: Answers. Advocacy. Action.
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The Lupus Foundation of America is hosting a free virtual educational event Lupus & You: Answers. Advocacy. Action., focused on lupus and the heart! Join us on Wednesday, June 23 at 7pm ET to hear from experts on lupus and the heart, how to talk to your doctor about being heart healthy, information on diagnostic tools and testing, and much more. Register here today!
Recording: National 211 Data Platform Network Town Hall
- For 211 leaders and was hosted on October 28th, 2020.
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Access the recording here.
Recording: National 211 Data Platform Deep Dive
- For 211 database administrators, vendors, and stakeholders and was hosted on November 11, 2020.
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Access the recording here.
Recording: 211 and the Social Determinants of Health: What’s all the Hype About
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View the recording here. Simply register and click "View".
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May 2021 - Ride United Last Mile Delivery, Mental Health Awareness & More!
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April 2021 - HELP Act Policy Briefing, COVID-19 Report, DEI, & more!
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March 2021 - Vaccine Access Campaign & President Biden Shout-out
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February 2021 - 211 Day 2021
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January 2021 - 2020 Year End Reflections
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December 2020 - 211 Federal Legislation
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November 2020 - 211.org Redesign & National 211 PSA
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October 2020 - Flu Season Resources + Introducing 211 & the Modern United Way Special Feature
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