HomeMy WebLinkAbout062425 - Join the Washington State 211_988_911 Renaissance in Your Area_RegionALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Join the Washington State 211/988/911 Renaissance in Your Area/Region
From the Yolo County California League of Women Voters:
To: LWVs, 911 Dispatchers, County Sheriffs, City Police Chiefs,
Emergency Responders, local government officials, county health
officers, social service directors, community action groups, 211
navigators, the United Way and members of the public:
Our LWV devoted over two years to studying local mental health issues.
We found chaos and frustration because mental health resources are
scarce and hard to find. We have developed a League Study Position on
Mental Health (below) which we invite your League to adopt and advocate
for the promotion of "211."
ORGANIZING IN EACH STATE
We are scheduling weekly meetings, ultimately in each state, on zoom to
build awareness for 211/988/911.
Zoom: Invite Link
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88064468057?pwd=yxVxRMeLKKCi77rx9BFD05OXJXce0L.1
ANALYSIS: THE 211/988/911 CHALLENGE:
"911" is for emergencies only.
"911" is not an "all purpose number" although it is used that way by the
public.
"211" is the "all purpose number."
Do you know about "211"?
Or "988"?
("988" is for mental health and suicide; "211" is help with everything:
housing, utilities, health care, employment, all the things that society
and the government actually do that can help a person in need.)
Everybody knows about "911."
Not nearly as many people know about "211."
"211" doesn't get 10% of the calls that "911" gets.
Probably half of the "911" calls that police dispatchers get could be
better handled by a "211" operator, for help with utilities, housing,
child care, or mental health issues.
"211" is organized by the United Way, who do the best they can with what
resources are available. But since "211" is under-resourced by local
governments, most people don't know about "211," and service response is
inconsistent, in part because the rural two-thirds of the counties are
dependent on the metropolitan giant database rather than personal
knowledge from familiarity.
"211" was invented by the US Federal Communications Commission to
relieve the pressure on "911." As many as half of the "911" calls are
not "life-threatening emergencies" or "a crime in progress" requiring a
law enforcement response.
Position Statement:
The LWV of Yolo County supports Mental Health/ Behavioral Health
programs with a focus on visible and accurate consumer information,
timely access to care, and data to support the effectiveness of programs
provided.
- The Board of Supervisors of Yolo County and the municipalities should
prioritize support and funding for 211 or a more specifically focused
mental health/behavioral health directory to assist with updated and
accurate program and services resource information.
- The Yolo County Department of Mental Health should more widely
publicize and distribute mental health and behavioral health resource
information in multiple languages using County media services and
displaying hard copy information prominently in public places.
- Yolo County contracted service providers should provide adequate
access to mental health and behavioral health services including the
adaptation of hours to meet community need.
- On-call services, or telehealth services could be considered as a more
cost-effective alternative to permanently scheduled staffing of
positions. These alternatives would provide evening or weekend hours in
some locations.
- Yolo County Health and Human Services should provide a 24-7 Crisis
Stabilization Center for mental health and behavioral health clients.
- Yolo County Health and Human Services and the Yolo County Department
of Mental Health should use data analysis to determine if mental health/
behavioral health services are effective.
RECOMMENDED County Board ACTIONS:
- print color versions of the official 211/988/911 graphic:
https://211virginia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/United-Way_211-Help-is-3-Numbers-Away-Venn-Diagram.pdf,
- post this marvelous graphic in bathrooms next to the mirror,
especially in schools, theaters, bars, churches, and every sheriff,
police and government office;
- from the County general fund budget, have the Sheriff's Public
Information Officer supply up-to-date cards with the
"211-Help-is-3-Numbers-Away-Venn-Diagram" on one side, and on the other
side phone numbers for resources for mental health, health, social
services and community resources, and the county's 24/7 "safe space" for
people in crisis.
PROMOTING 211/988/911
We are organizing weekly zoom meetings to promote 211/988/911:
Zoom:
Invite Link
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88064468057?pwd=yxVxRMeLKKCi77rx9BFD05OXJXce0L.1
Thursday, June 26:
Florida 7 pm ET (4 pm PT)
California 6 pm PT
Beginning Next Week:
Monday, June 30:
Miami, Broward and Palm Beach 7 pm ET (4 pm PT)
Oregon 7 pm PT
Tuesday, July 1:
New England/Mid-Atlantic: 6 pm ET (3 pm PT)
Florida 7 pm ET (4 pm PT)
Washington State 7 pm PT
Wednesday, July 2:
Virginia and the South 6 pm ET (3 pm PT)
Pinellas, Hillsborogh and Pasco Florida 7 pm ET (4 pm PT)
Rockies/Colorado 7 pm MT (6 pm PT)
Sacramento/Yolo California 7 pm PT
Thursday, July 3:
Orlando 6 pm ET (3 pm PT)
Sarasota/Manatee/DeSoto 7 pm ET (4 pm PT)
Los Angeles 6 pm PT
San Francisco 7 pm PT
211/988 is intended to be a friend of law enforcement.
If law enforcement publicized "211/988/911" so much that "211" is as
well-known as "911," people in need would be helped, and the law better
enforced.
Challenge: "211" calls are less than 10% of "911" calls.
Goal: have "911" calls drop because "211" calls grow, to exceed "911"
calls.
Jon Li
211/988/911 Help Desk
Davis, California
530-304-8801
araza.org