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May 2008
Greetings!
United
Way's 2-1-1 of WNC's e-newsletter is a resource for you.
We provide this as a way to keep in touch, highlight local
health and human service initiatives, promote information and
referral tools for serving your clients, gain your feedback,
and strengthen our community partnerships.
If you
have information to include in this newsletter, or have
questions or comments, please feel free to contact us. The
information in our free e-newsletter is meant to be shared.
Please forward and encourage your friends to sign-up.
We
hope you find the information useful and we look forward to
hearing from you. |
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 Buncombe
County Special Needs Registry
What is it?
Buncombe County's Special Needs Registry (SNR) is a
new database that will help emergency responders better
attend to citizens with special needs in times of
disaster. It provides vital information to emergency
responders in the event of a 911 call and/or during a
widespread disaster (hurricane, flood, blizzard, extended
power outage, disease outbreak). This program is
voluntary and individuals on the registry have the option to
accept or deny assistance. If there is a disaster or an
emergency, those on the SNR may be contacted, asked how they
are doing, given information about shelters, or how to prepare
or respond to the disaster.
Who is eligible?
The Buncombe County Special Needs Registry is available
for Buncombe County residents who have special medical needs
such as:
- Require assistance with daily living activities
(dressing, bathing, toileting, etc); or
- Require clinical observation; or
- Have a chronic or continuous contagious condition (e.g.
Tuberculosis); or
- Are elderly, disabled and /or homebound; and
- Do NOT live in a Skilled Nursing Facility (Nursing Homes
have their own disaster plans.)
How can people register?
Registration forms are available online at www.buncombecounty.org. Service
Providers seeking hard copies may contact Rebecca Chaplain at
Land-of-Sky Regional Council at rebecca@landofsky.org. More
information is available by calling 2-1-1 or 252-HELP.
Who are the partners in this
project?
American Red Cross Asheville-Mountain Area Chapter,
Buncombe County Department of Social Services, Buncombe County
Emergency Services, Land-of-Sky Regional Council, and United
Way's 2-1-1 of
WNC |
 Tools for
You Referrals to 2-1-1
2-1-1 is an important tool for connecting people
with community resources in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, and
Transylvania Counties. When you refer someone to
2-1-1 to find out about health and human services, you
can feel confident that they'll get good information about the
help that's available in our community.
We conducted a survey of local service providers, and
here are some results:
- 69% have used 2-1-1 in the past, either by phone or via
the online database.
- Of those, 92% stated they learned new and helpful
information from 2-1-1.
- 89% reported that referring clients to 2-1-1 helps
them address the needs of clients beyond the services
offered by their organizations.
We also conducted a survey of 2-1-1 callers, and here are
some results:
- 93% stated that they learned new and helpful information
from 2-1-1.
- 93% rated the 2-1-1 service as "very
helpful."
Here's what people are saying about 2-1-1:
- "In terms of helping finding locations and numbers,
2-1-1 is really helpful."
- "2-1-1 helped me with community resources. I work for a
mental health provider and 2-1-1 is a wealth of knowledge."
- "It's given me some options that I didn't have
before."
- "It saved me a lot of time and a lot of trouble."
- "2-1-1 helped me find the closest geographical place to
get food for my client."
- "I was looking to get some information for dentures for
my mother and I got 4 numbers when I all I asked for was
1."
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Community Resource Spotlight
Food and Nutrition Services - "Food Stamps"
With the current economic conditions, shoppers
are encountering increased food prices at the grocery
store, and local food pantries are are seeing increased
requests for emergency food assistance. According to the
USDA's 2005 report, only 58% of North Carolinians who are
eligible for "food stamps" are enrolled
in the program. You can help by educating your clients
about this critical benefit.
Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) is a federal food
assistance program that helps low-income families. In North
Carolina, monthly allotments of FNS benefits are issued via
Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. The purpose of Food
and Nutrition Services is to end hunger and improve nutrition
and health. It helps eligible low-income households buy the
food they need for a nutritionally adequate diet.
Food and Nutrition Services is an entitlement program, so
all eligible individuals and households can receive
assistance. Benefits may be used to purchase most foods at
participating stores. They may not be used to purchase
tobacco, pet food, paper products, soap products, or alcoholic
beverages.
Eligible households must have the opportunity to access
benefits no later than thirty days from the date of
application. Individuals with special circumstances must have
an opportunity to use their benefits within seven days from
the date of application.
For more information or to apply, contact
the Division of Food and Nutrition Services at your local
Department of Social Services:
Buncombe County: (828)
250-5500
Henderson County: (828)
697-5500
Madison County: (828)
649-0697
Transylvania County: (828)
884-3174
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