By Gina Greco
Herkimer County officially launches a new information and assistance service available to residents on February 11, according to Town of Webb Police Chief Ron Johnston, who announced the service at the local police station on Tuesday.
“However, the service is online right now, Herkimer County has it up and running,” he said.
Residents are able to use a simple three-digit phone number—2-1-1—to access the latest information relating to health and human service needs.
Where the 9-1-1 number is for reporting emergencies, 2-1-1 is intended to connect citizens in need with services that may help them.
These services exclude the ambulance, emergency medical, and law enforcement services handled by 9-1-1, according to Chief Johnston.
The new 2-1-1 service should relieve some of the burden to 9-1-1 call centers resulting from misdirected non-emergency calls, Johnston said.
“It’s an invaluable service that Herkimer County now has, they can call 2-1-1 and get the services that the emergency services don’t provide,” said Johnston
“It’s a great asset to the Town of Webb,” he said.
The system, named “Mid-York 2-1-1,” also serves Oneida and Madison counties.
Operators receiving the calls are accredited, skilled professionals.
They assess callers’ needs and help guide them to agencies that might assist.
2-1-1 operators work from a comprehensive resource database in assisting callers.
The service is helpful in navigating human service agencies and programs that amount to an ever-changing maze.
It is administered by the Alliance of Information & Referral Systems (AIRS).
The operators are trained to determine a caller’s eligibility for various programs.
That eligibility may be based on age, income, employment status, and other criteria.
Operators also intervene in crisis situations when needed.
“Basically what it does, is it opens up all the services and when people aren’t sure who to call they call the police or the fire department,” said Johnston.
“All health and human service programs will benefit from the shared infrastructure service of the 2-1-1 system as it improves access to services,” according to information provided by Chief Johnston.
From a planning standpoint, the 2-1-1 database helps identify recurring needs.
It should also illuminate gaps between public need and services provided.
This should allow for efficient mobilization of resources in response to changing needs.
Additionally, 2-1-1 is intended to serve as a lifeline during public health emergencies and times of disaster.
Operators will be able to direct callers to disaster-related needs, such as shelters, food, water, and recovery programs.
Basic Needs information will be available for survival level resources.
Those needs include food, housing, material goods, transportation and temporary financial assistance for individuals with low or fixed incomes.
Also, services for older adults, people who are homeless or disabled, or otherwise unable to adequately provide for themselves or their families.
Basic Needs programs are also available to the community at large.
Consumer programs are available to educate and protect individuals from unfair trade practices.
Programs also exist to help consumers manage their finances and make informed credit and purchasing decisions.
Criminal Justice and Legal Service programs are available to the public.
Education programs are available to help people acquire knowledge and skills to fully participate in and enjoy the social, political, economic and intellectual life of the community.
Other programs that are available include those relating to Environmental Quality, Health Care, Income Support and Employment, Individual and Family Life, and Mental Health and Counseling.