Community Partnerships & Projects
Vermont Agency of Human Services - Vermont 2-1-1 is the designated Information and Referral Program for the Vermont Agency of Human Services (AHS). In this grant year, 5% of the calls were referred by the Department for Children and Families and an additional 3% were referred by other state departments.
Vermont Association of Regional Partnerships - The Regional Partnerships in Vermont represent a shift in relations between local communities and State government. Situated in each of the twelve Agency of Human Services districts, the Regional Partnerships work in close collaboration with the Vermont Agency of Human Services and with the Vermont Department of Education . The common purpose is to make progress towards ten broad outcomes of well-being through the development of strategies that engage diverse sectors of the community.
Many of the Regional Partnerships have either merged with United Ways or ceased to exist in the same capacity due to cuts in state funding. Vermont 2-1-1 staff attend the meetings of the remaining Partnerships and often serve on sub-committees.
Agency of Human Services District Leadership Teams - The AHS District Leadership Teams were set up to enable the AHS Field Service Directors to collaborate effectively with their local partners. It entails key AHS subcontractors and other key agencies getting together to advise the AHS Field Service Directors on local AHS priorities and identify ways to improve and coordinate services and outcomes. These teams were created as a result of a reorganization of the Vermont Agency of Human Services (AHS). The 2-1-1 Director and 2-1-1 Resource staff attend these meetings throughout the state.
Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) - Vermont 2-1-1 is a core partner agency in the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC). Both the ADRC and the SIRACC have similar missions and share some of the same members. The differences lie in the populations served and the functions of each group. The ADRC focuses on providing information and access to services for older Vermonters, younger adults with physical and developmental disabilities or persons with traumatic brain injury and is currently being piloted in two regions of the state through 2008 with hopeful statewide expansion in the future; whereas the SIRACC crosses all populations and is currently a statewide effort. The collaboration between the two groups has helped to keep consistent communications about the role of each.
Statewide Information, Referral and Assistance Coordinating Council (SIRACC) - Vermont 2-1-1 has participated in the further development of I,R & A in Vermont working with VT AIRS and other I,R & A agencies throughout the state. Facilitated by Flint Springs Associates, a Statewide I,R & A Coordinating Council has been established to create a seamless system of I,R & A in Vermont. A vision and mission statement has been created and agreed upon by all participating agencies. The final report is currently available, which introduces an I,R & A map and an accountability mechanism that will be made available to the broader human service system. SIRACC employs the help of the State of Vermont to promote the work plan to I,R & A agencies so that Vermonters will experience “no wrong door” in their search for services to meet their needs. To learn more, please feel free to view the following letter of support from AHS Secretary, Robert Hofmann and the 2009 Current SIRACC Workplan.
Continuum of Care (State and Local) - The Continuum of Care (CoC) is a set of three competitively-awarded programs created to address the problems of homelessness in a comprehensive manner with other local, state and federal agencies. They are funded through HUD (Housing and Urban Development). Project: Volunteers from GE Healthcare have created a web-based tool to track shelter beds. This project was inspired by 2-1-1 call staff, as they would have to make several calls to shelters to find an open bed when receiving a call for shelter services. The Statewide Homeless Coalition (CoC) endorsed the project and has had input in further development of the tool.
Blueprint For Health – Mission: Vermont will have a statewide system of care that improves the lives of individuals with, and at risk for, chronic conditions. The Blueprint for Health has a foundation that intends to strengthen by broadening its scope and coordinating the initiative with other public and private chronic-care coordination and management programs. Staff serves on the Community Component Committee. Funding comes from the State of Vermont. Project: Vermont 2-1-1 has been promoted as the number to call for "Get Moving" and "Eat For Health." Inquirers into these programs may also recive additional referrals for exercise and healthy eating when they make this call.
Creating Assets, Savings and Hope (CASH) – The CASH Coalition of Chittenden County assists low and moderate income residents to achieve their financial goals through free tax assistance and asset-building opportunities. CASH services include free tax preparation, money skills training, Free Credit Report Day, and more. CASH services are free. Funding comes from grants and corporate sponsors. Project: Vermont 2-1-1 is partnering with the CASH Colaition and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to promote free tax preparation for those with an income below $50,000. Callers from Chittenden County can be directly transferred to a tax appointment scheduler for tax sites within the county. Callers may also learn about Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). (Note: Tax preparation calls amounted to 1,696 calls during the first 3.5 months of 2009).
Vermont Department of Health – VDH is the state’s lead agency for public health policy and advocacy. Projects: Vermont 2-1-1 has been promoted as the number to call for information regarding many public health awareness campaigns such as: Methamphetamine Awareness, Vermont Smile (oral hygiene), Abstinence Education Awareness, Chloramine awareness, H1N1 (Swine Flu) inquiries, Daily Multivitamin awareness, Parent Up Vermont (Underage Drinking in Vermont) and participation with Pandemic Flu drills. A staff member of the VDH has been designated as the Vermont 2-1-1 Liaison and serves on our Advisory Board.
Vermont SMILE - Vermont 2-1-1 currently answers for the Vermont Smile helpline: 1-888-9VT-SMILE. Vermont Smile was formerly a grant program of the Vermont’s Oral Health Initiative, which was a three-year grant funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Although the 3 year grant has ended, the Vermont Smile helpline and the educational materials are still available through a partnership between Vermont 2-1-1 and the Vermont Department of Health. The original grant was intended to improve access to oral health services for children of lower-income, minority and disabled populations in Vermont. Please call the Vermont Smile helpline to request a packet full of recommendations for good dental health.
Fuel and Food Partnership – Governor Douglas created a comprehensive and collaborative program to help Vermonters address increasing home heating, gasoline, and food costs by marshalling every available resource in our state. Discussions took place in June 2008 regarding the entry point for this initiative. Original plans called for a separate government toll free phone number. The Task Force decided that Vermont 2-1-1 would be promoted as the number to call for FFP information. The FFP initiative kicked off on July 1, 2008. In this sixth month grant period, close to 1,000 calls were answered from callers who heard about Vermont 2-1-1 through the Fuel and Food Partnership. The service most referred to was utility assistance, followed by weatherization. Vermont 2-1-1 Regional Resource staff are members of the local FFP coalitions that have been established this winter, and as active partners have been helping to identify resources, develop new initiatives and make funding decisions (note: during this grant year, 932 callers to Vermont 2-1-1 heard about the service from FFP marketing efforts).
Go Local – An internet source for information about local health services that are directly linked to health topics in MedlinePlus.gov. Project: Vermont 2-1-1 shares the health and mental health data from our data from our database with Go Local. Funding comes from National Network of Libraries of Medicine - New England Region, Fletcher Allen Health Care and the University of Vermont.
Limited English Proficiency (LEP) – The Vermont Agency of Human Services will be posting basic information about its programs and services in several languages on its website. From the site, inquirers will be directed to call 2-1-1 to find out more, with the help of a telephonic interpreter arranged by 2-1-1. Vermont 2-1-1 is then being asked to track the number of calls received requiring telephonic interpretation, to attempt to determine if those calls were the result of a referral from the AHS website, track the languages requested for telephonic interpretation and track the issues and needs of LEP callers. The site with translations was launched in October. Vermont 2-1-1 has hard copies of the translation in the different languages and distributes it appropriately. (Note: Since tracking began on September 1, 2008 (to 6/30/09), the number of calls received from those with limited English proficiency is 177).
Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) – There are 13 LEPC’s across the state. LEPCs must develop an emergency response plan, review it at least annually, and provide information about chemicals in the community to citizens. Plans are developed by Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) with stakeholder participation. Funding comes from Vermont Emergency Management.
Since the LEPC’s are located in each county across the state, five Vermont 2-1-1 staff members serve on several different LEPC’s. Vermont 2-1-1 staff attend meetings and often volunteers to serve on sub-committees.
Military Family and Community Network - The MFC Network of VT exists to help veterans, active and reserve military, and their family members. Vermont 2-1-1 is promoted as the number to call for information and resources. Vermont 2-1-1 staff participate in workshops and attend regularly scheduled MFCN meetings. The MFCN Network is a partnership that includes many stakeholders; VA, Agency of Human Services, Vermont National Guard, Vet Center, National Center for PSTD, Vermont 2-1-1 and other local providers.
State Emergency Response Commission – The mission of the SERC is to protect public health, safety and the environment by ensuring effective and efficient use of resources to plan for the response to all hazards incidents to include natural and manmade hazards, and hazardous materials. The SERC shall also ensure citizens are provided emergency and hazardous chemical inventory information upon request in accordance with the state and federal laws which it is charged with implementing. In carrying out this commitment, the SERC shall foster inter-governmental coordination at the local, state and federal levels. The Director of Vermont 2-1-1 attends these quarterly meetings.
School Crisis Teams – The Statewide School Crisis Planning Team has encouraged schools to contact Vermont 2-1-1 with information about incidents that occur affecting the safety of students. If there is an incident, parents can contact Vermont 2-1-1 for information on evacuation, lock downs and rumor control (Note: Six schools have included Vermont 2-1-1 in their crisis plans, 12 others have expressed interest.)
Vermont Emergency Management – In support of State Support Function 14 (SSF14) Public Inquiry, Vermont 2-1-1 answers the Vermont Emergency Management Public Inquiry Line in the case of public incidents or emergencies. Accurate and timely information is given out to the public on evacuation routes, shelter locations, financial assistance for damages, Commodity Points of Distribution and more.
Vermont Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster - Vermont Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VT VOAD) is the forum where organizations share knowledge and resources throughout the disaster cycle: preparation, response and recovery, to help disaster survivors and their communities. Vermont 2-1-1 and VT VOAD have collaborated to assist Vermonters who were affected by storms that hit regions of the state.
Vermont’s Long Term Recovery Committee – This collaboration of non-profit, faith based, local, state or national organizations works together to share information and resources that can help address the needs of individuals and families affected by a disaster. The Long Term Recovery Plan uses Vermont 2-1-1 as the entry point for Vermonter’s to call for assistance.
Vermont Medical Society – VT Medical Society has introduced an initiative that calls on doctors to assess their patients’ heating, food, transportation and other basic needs. Patients that express a need may be referred to Vermont 2-1-1 for help finding the services that can best meet their needs. Aggressive marketing has been done by the Medical Society to physicians via their newsletters and a press conference with Governor Douglas. Marketing to physicians’ offices is listed on Vermont 2-1-1’s future marketing plan. (Note: Vermont 2-1-1 received 195 referrals from doctor’s offices in the first six months of 2009).
Working Bridges – Built on the Bridges out of Poverty curriculum, this anti-poverty training initiative is designed to motivate employers to create management strategies that better meet the needs of an economically diverse workforce, while reducing such costly negatives as high turnover rates, excessive absenteeism and low employee morale for the company. The Working Bridges Coordinator has been trained by Vermont 2-1-1 and uses the Refer database to match employee’s needs with resources. The employees can meet with the Working Bridges Coordinator at their place of employment rather than taking time off of work to get to human service agencies.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline - The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. By dialing 1-800-273-TALK, the call is routed to the nearest crisis center in the national network of more than 130 crisis centers. Vermont 2-1-1 began answering the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for Vermont on August 6, 2009.