Management of 2-1-1 Sonoma County Service Transitions to United Way of the Wine Country
United Way of the Wine Country (UWWC) announces it will begin managing 2-1-1 Sonoma County effective July 1, 2019. 2-1-1 is a free telephone and web-based information and referral service. The service connects Sonoma County residents with health and human services and resources when assistance is needed, including during times of disaster. The transfer of 2-1-1 Sonoma County management from the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County (VCSC) to UWWC allows each organization to strategically focus on their core service and expand the value each organization contributes to the community.
“United Way of the Wine Country and the Volunteer Center have been strong partners for over 30 years. This transition is a way to leverage United Way’s statewide network of 2-1-1 service centers to reach more people who need us, faster,” said Lisa Carreño, President and CEO at UWWC.
With a commitment to the well-being of all residents, this realignment will free up resources at the VCSC, expanding its role of engaging volunteers, supporting the nonprofit sector, providing services to the elderly disabled and disadvantaged, and serving as the hub of resources in an emergency.
VCSC and UWWC are promising the seamless shift of 2-1-1 call handling on July 1 as UWWC takes over day-to-day management through a tightly managed transition coordination plan. When Sonoma County residents dial 2-1-1 Sonoma County on the switch-over date, a team of multilingual specialists located in Ventura, California, will answer incoming phone calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Since 2005, Interface, the Ventura call center provider, has been handling 2-1-1 calls for Ventura and 18 other counties in California. Interface’s expertise and technology will bring Sonoma County callers two-way texting capabilities and an immediate capacity to scale up call center resources in the case of an emergency—all at a lower cost-per-call than the current service due to their size, digital capacity and singular focus.
“The Volunteer Center advances nonprofits and volunteerism by strengthening leadership, encouraging involvement and uniting people with worthwhile causes. We are the County’s hub of resources in an emergency, and provide essential community services, not otherwise available to better the lives of those in need. We want to expand our core programs that help nonprofits build capacity, as well as our community engagement programs like the Human Race and Secret Santa. This handoff enables that expansion, putting us in a stronger position to fulfill our role in the community,” added David Hartman, Interim Executive Director of the Volunteer Center Sonoma County.
For more information, please contact United Way of the Wine Country at 707-528-4485.
About United Way of the Wine Country
For more than 50 years, United Way of the Wine Country (UWWC) has been working to advance the common good along the North Coast of California in Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Del Norte and Humboldt Counties. UWWC mobilizes the caring power of communities to focus on the building blocks of a good life - education, financial stability, and health. We do this by addressing underlying issues, improving lives, and building a healthy vibrant community. Visit unitedwaywinecountry.org for more information.
About Volunteer Center of Sonoma County
Since 1972, the Volunteer Center has been the heart of the Sonoma County community; matching prospective volunteers with local nonprofits to help them help others. The organization inspires thousands of people from all walks of life to share their skills and talents with worthwhile causes and organizations that help communities thrive. Today the Volunteer Center provides the volunteer power to help meet the needs of our community and the training necessary to help our nonprofits excel in their mission delivery. We are also the County’s leader for harnessing volunteer power and other resources in response to catastrophic events, facilitating a highly structured, effective emergency response. For more information, visit volunteernow.org.
