Lancaster Physician Summer 2019 - 28

L A N C A S T E R M E D I C A L S O C I E T Y.O R G

Healthy Communities

Our team of compassionate, highly trained
specialists are available 24/7 to help you access
the best local resources and services to address
any need. When you contact 2-1-1, you'll find
help with:
* SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD AND
NUTRITION PROGRAMS
* SHELTER AND HOUSING
OPTIONS AND UTILITIES
ASSISTANCE
* EMERGENCY INFORMATION
AND DISASTER RELIEF
* EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION
OPPORTUNITIES
* SERVICES FOR VETERANS
* HEALTH CARE,
VACCINATION AND HEALTH
EPIDEMIC INFORMATION
* ADDICTION PREVENTION AND
REHABILITATION PROGRAMS
* REENTRY HELP FOR
EX-OFFENDERS
* SUPPORT GROUPS FOR
INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL
ILLNESSES OR SPECIAL NEEDS
* A SAFE, CONFIDENTIAL PATH
OUT OF PHYSICAL AND/OR
EMOTIONAL DOMESTIC ABUSE
Here is just a sampling of some calls taken
by our 2-1-1 specialists in recent months:
"My electric is about to be shut off - I
owe $2000. My hours at work were cut back
and I just can't catch up..."
"I'm sleeping in a tent; I am 18 years old.
I have no money, my family kicked me out.
I just want to get back into school so I can
finish my senior year."
"I have three small children and my 80-yearold grandmother lives with us. We are out of
food until I get paid next week."
"I needed to leave an abusive situation. I had
nowhere else to go so I am sleeping in my car
with my two children. We are moving around
from one parking lot to another."

PA 2-1-1 East is committed to being the
first, most essential resource to anyone who
needs help. We help thousands of people
overcome barriers and address challenges every
day. We are one of seven regions covering the
state of PA. Thanks to ongoing support from
local United Ways and State funds, PA 2-1-1
will be able to bring service to 100 percent of
Pennsylvanians by late 2019.
How can you connect with your
2-1-1 service?
2-1-1 strives to be accessible to everyone. We
offer a variety of ways that individuals can reach
out to us and in a format most comfortable and
convenient to their environment or situation.
Simply dial 2-1-1 from any landline or cell
phone. Your call will be answered by a friendly
specialist in the contact center serving your
geographic area. In addition, it is very important for businesses and organizations to make
sure their phone system allows for the ability
to dial 2-1-1. Give it a try! If it does not go
through, please ask your telecommunications
department to program your system for this
important service. We have found that in
some instances, the workplace phone could
be the only safe place a person may have to
call for help.
You can also reach us by texting your zip code
to 898-211. Many of the cell companies offer
free texting to their lower-income customers.
We have found that while a client may be out
of cell minutes, they are still able to connect
with 2-1-1 by text. Sending an email is yet
another option to "talk" with a specialist and
gather information. To reach the Lancaster
2-1-1 Center use 211@uwlanc.org. Also, our
health and human service database, which
consists of thousands of services, is available in
a guided search on the web at PA211East.org.
What else does 2-1-1 do?
Coordinated Entry
The 2-1-1 Center also serves as the coordinated entry point for anyone at risk of, or
experiencing, literal homelessness in their
community. Callers will go through a screening

and eligibility process and then, with permission, their information is placed into a secure
homeless management system with referrals
to services that will provide the next steps to
shelter and housing stability.
Partners in Disaster Recovery
2-1-1 is available for everyday challenges,
but also during times of crisis and disaster.
We work with local partners and government
to provide up to date information and connect
those in need with available services during
a local disaster. 2-1-1 staff can make sure
disaster survivors have access to emergency
pop-up shelters and other basic necessities,
e.g., water, ice, food. In addition, 2-1-1 works
with PEMA and the local Voluntary Agencies
Active in Disaster (VOAD) to complete case
management intakes for those affected by the
disaster. This important step places residents
on the path to recovery and the rebuilding of
their damaged homes, bringing them back to
safe, secure, and sanitary conditions.
2-1-1 and VITA
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) is another program of United
Way of Lancaster County. VITA offers free
income tax preparation service to anyone under
the household income of $62,000. The 211
number is promoted on all VITA materials,
so customers have access to staff who are able
to schedule tax appointments, answer simple
tax questions, or connect clients directly to
the VITA team.
If you ever are in need of assistance and
don't know where to turn, 2-1-1 is here for
you. Thousands of people contact 2-1-1 every
day, seeking local resources to address their
needs. It's free; it's confidential. Call 2-1-1
and our compassionate experts will direct
you to essential services that can improve
your life.

WANT TO LEARN MORE OR SCHEDULE A
PRESENTATION FOR YOUR TEAM?
Contact Toni Gainer at gainer@uwlanc.org or 717-824-8118.
LANCASTER

PHYSICIAN

http://www.PA211East.org

Lancaster Physician Summer 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Lancaster Physician Summer 2019