Arkansas 211, Here to Serve:
As the State of Arkansas was beginning to deal with the
Public Health response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and safety measures were
closing down businesses and public gatherings, Arkansas 211 began the process
of expanding our services. For many years, Arkansas was one of two states
in the United States that had less than 20% of its population served by a 211
service. Beginning in 2017, we engaged a cohort of AmeriCorps members to
update our statewide resources. We hosted another two service years for State
and National Service members. When the pandemic began to highlight
community needs, United Way of Northwest Arkansas decided to expand the service
to cover the entire state of Arkansas. We then began the process of
building a team of Arkansas residents to serve as Community Resource Advisors
(CRAs) to cover a virtual contact center to serve the people of our state
during business hours. We secured the services of a sister 211 provider
to cover our after-hours service so that we now can answer requests from help
seekers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We also enhanced our service to
the community by creating a new website for easier use by members of the
community, and partner agencies. Dallas Mudd, Executive Director of
Arkansas 211, is fond of saying that when help seekers contact 211, it is
because they are facing challenges. It is our goal to be the best thing
that happens to them during these challenging times by:
- Providing
a confidential, judgement-free environment
- Validating
the concerns of the help seekers
- Exploring
if there are other needs that may be present
- Empowering
help seekers with accurate, curated resources
- Establishing
partnerships with community resource providers
- Ride
United Vaccine Access (RUVAC) – providing free Lyft rides for individuals
seeking transportation to COVID-19 vaccines
- Ride
United Transportation Access (RUTA) – providing free Lyft rides to
overcome transportation barriers for needed one-time, or episodic need
such as school, work, or appointments
- Ride
United Last-Mile Delivery (RULMD – providing DoorDash courier services for
needed essential supplies provided by partner agencies and programs
