Lake County Townships Come Together To Invest in 2-1-1
United Way of Lake County is engaging local townships to invest in 2-1-1, an information and referral service available 24/7 through phone, chat and email.
Currently, 94% of the United States has an established 2-1-1 program. Unfortunately, Illinois has less than 20% coverage with no coverage in Lake County. Implementing 2-1-1 would transform the way Lake County residents access critical information and resources in time of need.
United Way, alongside participating townships, have begun building a coalition of support for 2-1-1.
Currently, over $42,000 has been raised from the following townships:
• Benton Township
• Libertyville Township
• Vernon Township
• Warren Township
• Waukegan Township
• West Deerfield Township
Townships are an essential piece of the health and human services system in Lake County and United Way is grateful for their support,
"Our Townships are on the front line with citizens who reach out in need of support. They do a tremendous job in helping their constituents deal with personal or family challenges, natural disasters, like last year's flooding, and addressing the top needs in their communities. 2-1-1 will be a key resource for them to assist those in crisis or those seeking help, such as mental health services," said Kristi Long, President and CEO of United Way of Lake County.
In addition to building the township coalition, United Way is working with the Lake County Government, local businesses and individual donors in the community to fund the launch of 2-1-1.
United Way is proud to share that it is almost 70% funded for year one. Working together, we can bring 2-1-1 to Lake County and transform the way our residents get help and set the new standard for 2-1-1 in Illinois.
To learn more about bringing 2-1-1 to Lake County and ways to get involved, visit www.LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org/211. To support the pending launch of 2-1-1, visit www.LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org/support211.
About United Way of Lake County:
At United Way of Lake County, we believe that preparing children to thrive in school is the best way to disrupt the cycle of poverty. That's why we engage in activities that are ensuring children are ready for their first day of school, building children's early literacy skills, helping youth overcome barriers to high school graduation and empowering families to develop a strong foundation for their child's future success.
Through the support of our partners and supporters, we are transforming communities by delivering programs that are timely, effective and scalable, with results we can measure. For more information, visit www.LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org.