Missouri in line for phone help system

Missouri residents can call 211 for help in finding social services such as child care, employment support, food banks and health care as early as this summer, two health organizations announced Thursday.

The $8.5 million dollar project by the Missouri Foundation for Health and the United Way of Greater St. Louis will allow residents to call the number for immediate guidance, instead of having to research organizations themselves.

“The foundation’s charge is to provide services and fill gaps in services for underprivileged people,” said James Kimmey, a physician and president of the Missouri Foundation for Health. “It’s really an important step.”

The foundation is providing $1 million in start-up costs. Then, it will join with the United Way of Greater St. Louis to contribute a total of $1.5 million for operations in each of the next five years.

The project is expected to begin in AT&T service areas, which include the St. Louis area and Springfield. Sixteen counties in the Kansas City area have had the 211 service for almost a year. Similar services exists in 19 other states.

The Columbia and Jefferson City areas are expected to acquire the service in fall 2007; the rest of the state is scheduled to get it by 2008.

Columbia is slated to be one of four hubs in the state that will collects data from service providers in their regions.

“Essentially, these are locations that ensure that the information being given out is up to date,” health foundation spokeswoman Bev Pfieifer-Harms said.

The service is not targeted at any particular population.

“Obviously people who don’t understand the social service system (would benefit),” Kimmey said, “but you could be a wealthy person with a son who has a drug problem, and they can direct you to a place where you can get help.”

Kimmey also noted that the service would benefit new residents unfamiliar with services in their communities.

Carrie Zukoski, spokeswoman for the United Way of Greater Louis, added that citizens can call 211 to find places where they can donate and volunteer within their community.

Zukoski said the United Way plans to add 23 operators to answer the phones 24 hours a day.

It’s unclear what will happen to the service after its initial five-year run.

"Our goal is to continue raising funds to continue having it out there,” Zukoski said. “There’s also a bill in Congress to extend it to the nation.”

Kimmey said that although the bill hasn’t made a lot of progress, it is encouraging that Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., are crossing party lines to support it.

Kay Archer of the United Way in St. Louis said some chores remain before the service is implemented.

First, the Missouri Public Service Commission must authorize the service, and then phone companies will be given time to set it up.

“We’re excited that this is happening,” Zukoski said. “It’ll be really great for everybody in the state that they can have one place to call for all of their basic needs.”

Missourian reporter Meghan Krane contributed to this report.