For Immediate Release: August 10, 2005
Contact: Mary Williams-Stover, 463-5011
Health and Human Service Information Providers Merged
United Way 211 services in the Triad and Triangle have merged their two call centers, as a major step toward a statewide coverage. The consolidated call center operations are being provided by American Social Health Association (ASHA) for greater efficiency. The merger is expected to reduce costs and increase efficiency.
"By choosing to partner with ASHA, Triangle United Way ensures increased efficiency of the 2-1-1 service for thousands of people seeking help in our region, " said Jerry Oliver, member, Triangle United Way Board of Directors and the NC 211 Board of Directors.
The merger will be officially announced at a press conference and open house featuring U.S. Senator Richard Burr on Thursday, August 25 at 10:30 a.m. at the ASHA call center in Durham. Burr, one of the original sponsors of the national "Calling for 211" legislation along with Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Rep. David Price, will tour the facility and speak on the importance of 211 to North Carolina and the nation.
United Way 211 is a three-digit, simple to remember telephone number, providing people in need with access to vital health and human service information. The Triad 211 service was provided by United Ways of Greater Greensboro, Greater High Point, Davie, Davidson, Forsyth, Randolph and Rockingham counties. The Triangle 211 service was operated by Triangle United Way and served Chatham, Durham, Orange and Wake counties.
"This is a tremendous opportunity to better serve a larger region and achieve economies of scale that will enable us to expand service to a larger portion of North Carolina residents," Steve Snelgrove, Chairman of the Board of Piedmont Triad United Way Services, said.
Callers in both communities will experience a seamless transfer of services and the same high quality access to local health and human services to meet a myriad of needs. By simply dialing 2-1-1, callers can find substance abuse assistance, secure adequate care for a child or an aging parent or secure employment support and assistance and found out about volunteer opportunites plus much more. The 2-1-1 database can be accessed at www.nc211.org.
"This merger is a critical step in creating statewide access to United Way 211. Under the new agreement, more local communities will have an opportunity to join the 211 system," said Priscilla Taylor, Chairwoman of United Way of North Carolina's 211 Committee. "With the help of sponsors, we hope to offer 211 access to communities not currently served by United Way, but in need of a resource to connect residents to help.
"ASHA operates five state-of-the-art call centers that address sensitive health topics. Call center staff provide compassionate, one-to-one services to thousands of individuals every month. As a major provider of health-related telephone hotline services since 1979, ASHA has significant information technology capabilities in maximizing call capacity and call center management. ASHA currently runs the National Herpes Hotline, the CDC National Prevention Information Network, the Sisters Study, the HerpeVac Clinical Trials Test Results Service.
United Way 211 is currently available in 16 counties covering approximately 43% of the North Carolina's population including: Buncombe, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davie, Davidson, Durham, Guilford, Forsyth, Henderson, Mecklenburg, Orange, Randolph, Rockingham, Transylvania, Union and Wake counties. Last year over 40,000 people found help by calling 211.
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