Posts by savvyadmin
Helpful Tips for Successful Searching
The more detail in the search term, the more relevant and concise the results will be.Ex: Search term “food” for zipcode 98901 returns 162 results. Search term “food pantries” in the same zipcode returns 35 results. 2. When typing a search term, a drop down list appears under the term. For more relevant and concise…
Read MoreWA211 is Helping To Ensure Equitable Access to COVID Vaccine
Barely two months into 2021 and it’s looking like another record breaking year for Washington 211 as our focus shifts from helping people understand how to be safe in the time of COVID to helping them find, schedule and receive the vaccine. In 2020, call volume leaped by 70 percent over 2019 with 477,000 callers entering the…
Read MoreFirst Virtual Legislative Session in Full Swing
Happy 2021! A new year that offers opportunities and new challenges for Washington 211 as evidenced by our nearly exponential call volume growth this month as vaccinations availability increases. Last week, our system received over 13,500 calls which was more than double the week before and nearly four times the volume of the first full week in January. In…
Read MoreCOVID-19 Spurs Innovation and Adaptation
Washington 211 Calls Continue to Run Ahead of Last Year’s PaceEven as COVID-related calls drop from a high of over 24,000 in March to just over 4,600 in September, Washington 211 call handling continues to run significantly ahead of last year. Washington 211 handled nearly 31,500 calls in September, representing a 68 percent increase in…
Read MoreAnnual Report Shows 90% Increase in Calls People in Distress Turning to WA211
Latest Annual Report Lays Out What’s Been Happening With 2-1-1The story of how the 2-1-1 statewide system has been able to handle a 90 percent increase in calls, resulting mostly because of the pandemic, begins with planning and work done prior to the crisis. It’s been such a busy year that this year’s WA211 annual report covers…
Read MoreHundreds of Services Added to the 211 Database
Handled Calls in May Up Significantly from Last YearWashington 211 centers handled 80 percent more calls in May of this year than the same month last year. Nearly 30,000 callers had their questions answered and/or were referred to services last month compared to 16,432 during May 2019. Even when COVID hotline calls are removed, the…
Read MoreTwitter Rally Generated Tweets to Congress in Support of $150 Million
Twitter Rally and Storm Focuses on COVID FundingUnited Way Worldwide and the 211 Network collaborated on a Twitter Rally (Chat) using the hashtag #Team211 on Wednesday to generate tweets to Congress in support of $150 million request in the next Congressional relief package. 211 centers all over the country participated, sharing stories of collaboration, call…
Read MoreLatest Washington 211 News Growing Need for Housing Assistance
COVID-19 Hotline Callers Seek Clarifications on Returning to WorkGovernor Inslee’s recent announcement of a phased approach for re-opening the state’s economy appears to have prompted a bump in calls into the state’s COVID-19 hotline about getting back to work. The Washington 211 network has answered over 50,000 calls since early March through the statewide hotline number (1-800-525-0127).…
Read MoreWA 211 COVID-19 Response Update – No. 4
211 Answers Calls to Licensed Long Term Care FacilitiesStarting earlier in April, calls going to state-licensed aging and long-term care facilities regarding COVID-19 have been routed to 211 through the use of automated voice scripts based on the callers selection. Washington 211 is partnering with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services to answer…
Read More211 Counts – Your Community’s Most Pressing Needs
Washington 211 Data Provides Insights from the State Level to Your Neighborhood You can now access the rich data that Washington 211 collects from 211 callers to learn what the most pressing needs are in your community online at “2-1-1 Counts”. 2-1-1 Counts is the first tool to provide real-time, searchable and visual presentations of data from…
Read MoreWA 211 COVID-19 Response Update – No. 3
The Washington 211 system roared like a lion into March as it saw its call activity more than double from the same month last year. Calls Go Up While Abandoned Call Rate PlummetsThe significant increase in call volume is due to the Washington 211 network handling calls from the Washington State Department of Health COVID-19…
Read MoreWA 211 COVID-19 Response Update – No. 2
The COVID-19 crisis has been a good test of Washington 211’s ability to ramp up to handle large volumes of calls in emergency situations. Two weeks ago, the Washington 211 Network began handling calls from the Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 hotline (1-800-525-0127). Here are the highlights: Over 30,000 Calls Have Been Made to the HotlineEvery…
Read MoreWA 211 COVID-19 Virus Response Update
Washington 211 Network Designated as Principle Call Center The Washington 211 (WA211) network has been designated and contracted by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) to serve as the principal call center to provide information and referrals about the Coronavirus (COVID-19). At this time calls are being answered from the DOH 1-800-525-0127 number through the…
Read MoreNew Budget Includes 211 Equipment Upgrade
You Played an Important Role in Supporting our Call Centers! The state legislature has approved this week a supplemental operating budget that includes $200,000 for upgrading telecommunications and other equipment for Washington 211 call centers. While a modest request, supplemental budget requests can be difficult to get funded. Your work in reaching out to your legislators, whether…
Read More2019 Novel Coronavirus – What you should know!
The COVID-19 situation in Washington State and the United States is evolving rapidly as more becomes known about the virus, how it is spread, and how it effects people. For the most accurate and timely information on COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or monitor CDC social media channels. For the most up to date COVID-19…
Read MoreCommerce launches new, improved Retirement Marketplace
Updated web portal with user-friendly design features and more educational resources helps owners of small businesses and individuals easily shop for affordable, state-verified retirement savings plans. OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce has launched the new Retirement Marketplace, a one-stop, easy-to-use website that helps owners of small businesses and individuals comparison shop for retirement savings plans. All plans on the marketplace are from…
Read MoreMillions of dollars in Earned Income Tax Credits go unclaimed each year – is some of it yours?
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is an important benefit for working people with low to moderate incomes, but you must file a federal tax return to get it, even if you owe no income tax.OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce reminds anyone earning up to $55,952 that they may be eligible…
Read More211 Lobby Day for 2020 Session
Dear 211 leaders and supporters, The Washington 211 Advocacy Day in Olympia will be February 11 (National 211 Day). Your full engagement in this day will play an important role in supporting our request for $222,000 in critical equipment and infrastructure upgrades. Key to the success of this day are legislator meetings. Call center managers…
Read MoreSouth Sound 2-1-1: Get Connected. Get Help.
“Thirty seconds into the phone call, there is a piercing scream that would give you tinnitus in your ear if you don’t already have it. J’nai Starks smiles. This isn’t new to her when she answers a call to South Sound 2-1-1.” –read more!
Read MoreFruit and vegetable incentives put healthy food within reach
Power to choose – read more!Fruit and vegetable incentives put healthy food in Washington shoppers’ reach. Complete Eats coupons provide matching funds for fruits and vegetables. Every purchase $10 dollars of fruit and vegetables at participating Safeway stores, earns a $5 coupon for fruits and vegetables toward a future purchase.
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