Yes if you have a crisis and need help fast, then pick up the phone and dial 211. 211 is a national collaborative of the United Way World and the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems. 211 is a number that you can call that connects you with your local chapter. They can provide critical information about services that are available to you in your community. Your chapter can provide you with information about services that are available to assist you with housing. food, clothing, employment, counseling, health-care,senior and childcare services. They can also assist you with services that are available form teen pregnancy to alcohol and drug intervention and rehabilitation and much, much more. They have an exhaustive list of referral information for all most any critical health or human service issue you might encounter. As of November 2009 211 serves over 241 million Americans in 47 states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. The remaining states are in various stages of planning for implementation of the 211 system with new services been update weekly. Furthermore,as of September 2008 the 211 system has expanded its services to Canada. You can find out more about this expansion at http://www.211canada.ca/ .
As for the expansion in the remaining states in American, you can join in their efforts by contacting your representative in congress and urge them in co-sponsoring the Calling for 211 Act by signing the United Way petition (S.211/H.R.211). If you have had or know of someone that has utilized the 211 calling system, could you shared with our readers if you or their needs where met?
This has been an interesting and demanding decade. From national and natural disasters to financial failures and home foreclosures, this period of our history has affected us all in someway or another. Not that the first part of the 21st century was unkind to all of us, but for some of us, our lives will be forever changed. On a personal note, I am mourning to loss of my beautiful grandmother who passed away on Dec. 30th. My goal this year is to make her proud of me. I will work hard to do all I can do to provide you with information that will help you or someone you love. May we all work harder to help our fellow man, and may the coming decade be filled with compassion and hope and new beginnings for us all.
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