“This is significant and shows that there was a need in the community for this online service,” said Chris Juett, 2-1-1 Program Manager. “We are pleased that we can now offer this service to the community.”

In comparison, the 2-1-1 phone operators receive more than 50,000 calls a year.

The 2-1-1 Resource Room includes print materials that employees can conveniently grab and take with them.

Nordstrom unveiled a new 2-1-1 Resource Room for its employees. Brandy Lindsey commented that Nordstrom has many employees looking for services. This room is a quiet, private place where they can search for the assistance that they need. The room features a computer where employees can privately search firstcallforhelpiowa.org, the 2-1-1 website. It also includes a telephone and a wall full of print materials about various services.

2-1-1 Manager, Chris Juett hopes that many other companies consider creating their own 2-1-1 resource rooms. Employees benefit from having a secure place to take care of their personal needs. If your business is interested in creating this kind of resource, please contact Chris Juett at cjuett@uweci.org.

Brandy Lindsey finds the 2-1-1 website very useful to Nordstrom employees.

We are still collecting information from our tax partners and will share that in the next month or so.

The room will have brochures from partner agencies, a computer for people to access FirstCallforHelpIowa.org – 2-1-1′s online version – and a phone for people to call 2-1-1 for help.

“We appreciate Nordstrom’s willingness to try this new project,” said Chris Juett, United Way 2-1-1  program manager. “The room should be ready for use in May and we’d be happy to eventually offer this program to other area companies.”

If you are interested in learning more about bringing the program to your companies please fill out the form below.

There is still time to schedule an appointment and get your taxes completed by calling United Way 2-1-1 Monday – Friday between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. From a cell phone call 319-739-4211 or toll free to 1-866-469-2221. Trained 2-1-1 Specialist will assist callers in finding the most convenient location and available appointment. Tax appointments are still available in Black Hawk, Jones, Linn and Washington counties.

If you worked at any time in 2011 and earned less than $50,000, you may also qualify for an Earned Income tax Credit (EITC).

Those options are newly updated Linn County community resource sheets and United Way 2-1-1 (FirstCallforHelpIowa.org).

The community resource sheets can be accessed on Linn County’s website atwww.linncounty.org/LCCS. The resource sheets are updated annually and provide a starting point to help individuals and families attain the assistance they need to stabilize their situations and ultimately become more self-sufficient.

The resource sheets include the 18 different resource categories listed below:

1) Affordable Housing Resources                                  10) Financial Resources

2) Basic Needs Resources                                             11) Food Assistance Resources

3) Child Care Resources                                                12) Health Resources

4) Counseling & Therapy Resources                               13) Legal Assistance Resources

5) Disability Resources                                                 14) Older Adults Resources

6) Education Resources                                                 15) Parent Education Resources

7) Emergency Shelter Resources                                    16) Sexual Health Resources

8 ) Employment Resources                                             17) Transitional Housing Resources

9) Family & Youth Resources                                         18) Transportation Resources

Many of the programs and services listed have eligibility guidelines or criteria. Anyone using the resource sheets is encouraged to read the service description before contacting the organization to help avoid frustration.

“While every effort has been made to make the resource sheets as accurate and inclusive as possible, we all know that things change. So we highly encourage clients to call before physically going to any of the locations listed to assure that they are currently operating from that address,” said Ann Hearn, deputy director of community planning.

A second option is United Way of East Central Iowa’s 2-1-1 service that is available to help people with basic needs. A new and improved United Way 2-1-1 web site is also now online. The site features all the resources of the 2-1-1 call center. People still have the option of calling 2-1-1 (319-739-4211 from pay phone or cell phone and 866-469-2211 toll-free), but now can also search the web site at www.FirstCallforHelpIowa.org from a computer, mobile device or iPad.

Here are some features of the 2-1-1 web site:

• New database. An up-to-date database with over 785 agencies and resources – the same as the 2-1-1 center.
• Easy search. Search by keyword or browse by topic.
• Save your search. If you need to come back to your search, you can easily save the search

What kind of answers can be found on the site?

• Basic human needs
• Physical and mental health
• Employment support
• Assistance for older adults and persons with disabilities
• Support for children and families
• Emergency/crisis assistance

“The 2-1-1 call-in service has been in demand with more than 50,000 calls per year,” said Chris Juett, United Way 2-1-1 program manager. “But we know that people search online for information, too. To make our data available was the next logical step for us.”

United Way of East Central Iowa provides a service to those who are unemployed through 2-1-1. By calling or searching the 2-1-1 website, people can find help when they are faced with unexpected situations – such as unemployment. 2-1-1 Program Manager Chris Juett said, “It really provides peace of mind to people who are under stress just trying to deal with losing their job. When they call or go on the website, they can find unemployment services, information about applying for financial assistance and other programs that are going to get them through the hard times and provide help to get them back on their feet.”

Dial 2-1-1 from your land line or 319-739-4211 from a cell or payphone or 866-469-2211 toll-free. The 2-1-1 website is located at FirstCallForHelpIowa.org, click here to be redirected.

Video transcript:
“United Way 2-1-1, may I help you?”
 
Chris Juett, United Way 2-1-1 Manager:
“You might be asking what people normally call about.  They can call for assistance during an emergency.  We also have people who call for basic needs.    They have been unemployed and now they have a job and they need some dress clothes for that job.  They can call for information about that.  They may need help with a broken furnace.  They may need help with energy assistance or they may need to get their taxes done and they’ll call for a free tax appointment.”

2-1-1:
“Yes, ma’am, may I please get your zip code?”
 
Chris Juett:
“United Way 2-1-1 has 840 agencies in our 2-1-1 database.”
 
2-1-1:
“And you wanted the food stamp office, is that correct? Ok, the Iowa Department of Human Services of Linn County is area code 319…”
 
Chris Juett:
“The job of the United Way 2-1-1 Information and Referral Specialist is to get you to the resources that most meet your needs.  So making a donation to United Way of East Central Iowa not only helps our partner agencies but it helps support United Way 2-1-1 Call Center.