Title
Special recognition of 2-1-1 Day in Lake County.
Body
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
WHEREAS, United Way of Lake County has been dedicated to serving children and families in our communities since it began in 1947; and
WHEREAS, the critical service 211 Lake County, which was launched by United Way of Lake County on September 24, 2019, is open and available for everyone in Lake County, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, 211 is a free, confidential, easy-to-remember, one-stop helpline that connects people in need to a wide range of essential health and human services, and reduces non-emergency calls to 911; and
WHEREAS, 211 enables the people of Lake County to get connected to help 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by phone, text and online, regardless of the language they speak or where they live; and
WHEREAS, 211 expert navigators are trained specialists who will listen, identify underlying problems, and guide people to available resources; and
WHEREAS, since launch, 211 has made more than 125,000 connections from every zip code in Lake County, mostly for help with housing and shelter, rent and utility assistance, food, mental health and addictions, and healthcare, including more than 20,000 calls and texts, and more than 105,000 website sessions; and
WHEREAS, 211 team members have compassionately answered an increased number of calls with more complex needs since the pandemic started, and 211 has partnered with the county to facilitate rental assistance screenings and COVID-19 response through vaccine promotion, education and referrals; and
WHEREAS, 211 is available to nearly 96 percent of America’s population and, Lake County is the largest county in Illinois to make 211 available to its community members; and
WHEREAS, Lake County is leading the way as a model to bring 211 services to all Illinois communities so that every person in Illinois has access to quality information, resources and assistance for addressing health and human service needs; and
WHEREAS, Lake County government is a key community partner committed to raising awareness of 211 and has provided financial support to ensure this service can be used by Lake County residents and visitors for years to come; and
WHEREAS, daily, 211 provides vital information and referrals to individuals and families in Lake County to improve and save lives.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RECOGNIZED, that the Lake County Board does hereby proclaim February 11, 2022 as 211 Day in Lake County and encourages everyone to become aware of the services provided by 211.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois on February 8, 2022.