West Virginia 211 Launches New Tool to Explore Data

Leaders of West Virginia today announced the launch of their online 211 Counts tool. The new tool allows you to access the rich data that West Virginia 211 collects from callers to learn what the most pressing needs are in our state. 

2-1-1 Counts is the first tool to provide real-time, searchable and visual presentations of data from West Virginia 211’s network. Using 2-1-1 Counts, you’ll find a data dashboard of community-specific needs and gaps in services that can be displayed at the state and county level as well as by congressional, legislative and school district level. You can even view data by zip code and by time period.

“West Virginia 211 is proud to offer 211 Counts as a convenient, publicly available service for access to current information regarding the most urgent needs of West Virginians, commented April Knight, Statewide Director.

A menu at the far left of the page allows users to share data through social media and email or through downloadable PDF reports. This makes it easier to create custom needs reports to share with different audiences.

The data dashboard is divided into four sections: 

  • Top left section organizes requests into 13 categories and by clicking the people icon, following the category name, produces a demographic report by gender, age, and Veterans status.

  • Top right section lists a sub-category of services which shows percentage of requests as well as percentage of requests that were unmet.

  • Bottom left section includes a heat map of requests by zip code along with Census data on population, poverty, unemployment, rental housing and education.

  • Bottom right section displays the top 10 highest rates of requests by zip code as well as a trend line of requests over the past 12 months.

To learn more, go here! Here you will find a link to the 211 Counts dashboard as well as a link to a user’s guide and instructional videos on how to use the dashboard.

WV 211 Announces New State Director

The Board of Directors of West Virginia 211, the state’s official information and referral hotline, has chosen April Knight to become the first full-time State Director. 

Knight comes to United Way from TEAM for WV Children where she worked as the Senior Family Resource Specialist for the past 10 years. She holds a B.S. in Finance from Marshall University.  

“We’re so excited to announce April as our first fulltime State Director, states Margaret O’Neal, Board of Directors President. “We are so fortunate to have the right candidate with the skills and heart to move our organization forward.” 

Knight resides in Huntington with her two daughters who are attending Marshall University. 

WV 211 remains the trusted source for answers and is staffed with the most up-to-date and accurate resources to help those in need. Last year, WV 211 helped over 30,000 West Virginians looking for assistance. 

Call specialists answer calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. They can help connect individuals and families with food pantries, health care services, transportation, recovery and addiction, utility and eviction prevention assistance, and more. 

Dial 2-1-1 or text your Zip Code to 898-211 today. Individuals can also self-search resources on the wv211.org website or live chat with one of the call specialists. 

WV 211 is a program of the West Virginia United Way Collaborative.The Collaborative is made up of the 13 United Ways across the mountain state. The collaborative takes collective action to fight for the health, education, and financial stability of everyone living in our state.As West Virginia’s leading community solutions provider, we are the driving force behind many initiatives that provide solutions to the most critical needs, including the ALICE report. For more information, visit:unitedwaywv.org.

West Virginia Celebrates 211 Day- 2022

On February 11, West Virginia 211 will celebrate 211 Day, recognizing this critical service that has answered more than 31,000 calls in 2021, connecting people to the services and benefits they need.

“Our team of trained call specialists who answer the phones at 211 every day is truly amazing,” said Margaret O’Neal, president of the Board of Directors. “Every day, they connect thousands of West Virginians to resources and services they need. Often, this means digging into an individual’s story, and helping get to the root of the problems they are facing.”

211 provides a vital service leveraged by millions of people across North America. Every day, clients contact 211 to access free and confidential crisis and emergency counseling; disaster assistance; food, health care and insurance assistance; housing and utility payment assistance; employment services; veterans services; childcare, family services and more. 

Last year on this special day, WV 211 launched the capability to search for resources on their website. This new feature saw over 45,000 searches in its first year.

“One persistent local barrier to improving access to resources is simply knowing where to turn when you’re in need,” said Brett White, chair of the West Virginia United Way Collaborative. “Often times, individuals would rather search for the information on their own instead of speaking to our representatives. This new feature allows them to do just that.”

With the release of their 2021 Impact Report today, they have also published their top five requests, which include: utility assistance, rent/mortgage assistance, COVID-19 information, homeless shelters/coordinated entry, and food insecurity.

“As we continue to determine the best way to help area residents who struggle to pay their bills despite having full-time employment, 211 has remained a vital resource for the people and communities we serve,” added O’Neal. “From assistance with tax preparation, utilities assistance, and employment services, 211 is there, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. And it remains one of our best tools for building strong and stable communities.”

For more information about West Virginia 211, or to donate to keep this vital service available for West Virginians, visitwv211.org. 

211 is West Virginia’s Guide to Help

New Public Service Announcement spotlights 211 helpline and encourages West Virginians to utilize the resource for assistance accessing community programs, federal, and state aid 

The 211 Impact Survey Results reveal that in 2020 alone, the 211 network made 27.8 million connections to critical services and help. This an increase of nearly 100% from the 14 million connections in 2019. Locally, in West Virginia, specialists responded to over 20,000 calls. The most notable increase for 2020 is a 150% increase in connections to food programs. This increase in calls to 211 for help highlights the magnitude of the need for human services as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted millions of lives in 2020. 

211 is a free and confidential service that helps people across North America find local resources when they are in crisis. The West Virginia United Way Collaborative operates West Virginia 211, providing information on more than 12,000 services across a variety of human services. With a presence in all 55 counties and more than 96% of U.S. communities, 211 is the most comprehensive source of information about local resources and services in the country. Each trained specialist is local to his/her community and is equipped to identify the appropriate resources and advocate for those who need support. 

To help more people learn about the 211 resource, the Ad Council, United Way Worldwide and the Rockefeller Foundation announced a new partnership and campaign to launch a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) titled Guiding Light. The Guiding Light campaign aims to encourage those who may still be feeling the economic, social and other impacts in the wake of the pandemic to call 211 or visit 211.org for support and resources. 

“Here in West Virginia, the problems of COVID-19 aren’t over. Unfortunately, there are many people who don’t know how to access local resources to help them navigate challenges they may be facing,” said Margaret O’Neal, President of West Virginia 211. “211 is the go-to resource, but more people need to know about it, and I am grateful that the Guiding Light PSA will help more people in West Virginia get access to the services that could help them on the path to recovery.” 

The Guiding Light campaign includes online video, broadcast, radio spots, digital media and outdoor advertising in both English and Spanish, illustrating 211 as the guiding light for families who are struggling financially or emotionally. From food assistance and help paying bills to health care answers and mental health resources, 211 can be the guiding light when times get dark.

Watch the PSA: https://youtu.be/3tMAgpULXHY

“211 specialists throughout the U.S. and Canada have addressed front line needs this year, more than ever,” said Brett White, Chair of the West Virginia United Way Collaborative. “This new partnership will help increase awareness of 211 and the array of services available through the 211 network to help those in need. As a result of this partnership, we hope that even more people will get access to resources and supports that will help communities continue to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

West Virginia Celebrates 211 Day

On February 11, West Virginia 211 will celebrate 211 Day, recognizing this critical service that has answered more than 25,000 calls over the last year, connecting people to the services and benefits they need.

“Our team of trained call specialists who answer the phones at 211 every day is remarkable,” said Margaret O’Neal, president of the Board of Directors. “Every day, they connect thousands of callers to resources and services they need. Often, this means digging into an individual’s story, and helping get to the root of the problems they are facing.”

211 provides a vital service leveraged by millions of people across North America. Every day, clients contact 211 to access free and confidential crisis and emergency counseling; disaster assistance; food, health care and insurance assistance; housing and utility payment assistance; employment services; veterans services; childcare, family services and more.

On this special day, WV 211 is also launching a partnership with Aunt Bertha to add self-service search functionality to their program. This new feature allows users to visit wv211.org and search over 12,000 available resources on their own. The search results allow the user to filter by location, hours, needs, etc. It is mobile responsive and extremely easy to use.

“One persistent local barrier to improving access to resources is simply knowing where to turn when you’re in need,” said Delaney Laughery, statewide 211 Director. “Often times, individuals would rather search for the information on their own instead of speaking to our representatives. This new state of the art search feature will allow them to do just that.”

With COVID-19 still challenging our state, leaders have decided to celebrate the day virtually through social media and advocacy work. No local in-person events are being scheduled to keep everyone safe.

“As we continue to determine the best way to help area residents who struggle to pay their bills despite having full-time employment, 211 has remained a vital resource for the people and communities we serve,” added O’Neal. “From assistance with tax preparation, utilities assistance, and employment services, 211 is there, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. And it remains one of our best tools for building strong and stable communities.”

For more information about West Virginia 211, or to donate to keep this vital service available for West Virginians, visitwv211.org.

WV 2-1-1 Announces New State Director

The Board of Directors of West Virginia 2-1-1 has chosen Delaney Laughery to become the WV 2-1-1 State Director.  Laughery replaces Barbara Mallory who retired from the position in April 2020. Laughery has been employed by United Way and WV 2-1-1 for 3.5 years and holds a BS in Exercise Science from Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

“We’re so excited to announce Delaney as our second WV 2-1-1 Director, states Margaret O’Neal, Board of Directors President. “We are so fortunate to have the right candidate with the skills and heart already within our organization.” 

Laughery brings passion to WV2-1-1 for serving those in her community. She enjoys everything fitness, the outdoors, and being involved in her church community. Her office is at the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley located in Parkersburg, WV.

WV 2-1-1 remains the trusted source for answers, and is sustainable with the most up to date and accurate contacts statewide with resources to help those in need. WV 2-1-1 is ready to help people facing difficulties. It is the EASIEST and MOST RELIABLE source. Our resource navigators answer calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We can help connect individuals and families with food pantries, health care services, transportation, recovery and addiction, utility and eviction prevention assistance and more. The message is simple, call 2-1-1 today from any wireless or landline phone to speak with one of our specialists. We’ll put you in touch with the right resources. Dial 2-1-1 or text your Zip Code to 898-211 today. WV 211 is a program of the United Ways of West Virginia.

United Ways Launch Revamped Statewide 2-1-1 Information Line

The United Ways of West Virginia officially launched their revamped statewide information line, 2-1-1, today, making it the first statewide collaborative project ever undertaken by all 14 individual United Ways.

2-1-1 is a telephone number that links callers to health and human service information and referral through trained certified specialists. The 2-1-1 services are free and available 24-hours a day. Anyone can call 2-1-1 to have their questions answered about services in their specific area. The specialist will ask the caller questions in order to find the right services available.

 “United Way’s new 2-1-1 will make information on a wide variety of local support services more accessible across our entire state,” said United Way of Central WV President, Margaret O’Neal. “Whether it’s information for locating a health clinic, finding child care programs, or getting housing assistance, 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember, go-to resource for individuals and families.”

The program originally started in the 1990’s and was run by a separate non-profit. The United Ways have taken over management and governance of the line to better align it with the communities across West Virginia. When callers dial 2-1-1, they are asked to enter their zip code, which then directs them to the correct United Way to handle their request. During evening and weekend hours, United Way has partnered with First Choice Services as their call center. The line is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

“It was important to us to partner with a call center that understands the needs of individuals in a crisis,” added Brett White, Executive Director of the United Way of Marion County. “First Choice has extensive experience working with several other hotlines and social service call numbers.”  

Barbara Malloryserves as WV 2-1-1 Director.  “2-1-1 is critical to our communities, because it can literally save lives. During a crisis, individuals and families can receive help finding services, including mental health counseling, food, shelter, and clothing,” said Mallory. “Also during natural disasters and significant crisis situations, 2-1-1 is used for non-emergency calls, freeing up the 9-1-1 call center lines.

In coming weeks, service providers will be able to view information online at wv211.org. You are encouraged to submit a request through the website to update information so real-time updates can be made. If you would like more information on the program, dial 2-1-1.