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History
of 2-1-1 Community Resources, Inc.
The history of 2-1-1 Community Resources, Inc. is really the history
of an idea for a planning resource center for health and human service
agencies. That idea has been realized many forms throughout its
organizational life since the early 1960s. For several decades it
has evolved as an organization marked with significant mergers and
spin-offs and transformations that have fairly consistently produced
valuable improvements in the everyday operations of the complex
social service delivery system, which collectively is one of the
most precious assets in today metropolitan communities.
The deepest roots of
this agency in Central Florida, spanning more than 30 years, come
from providing information and referral services as well as coordinating
and facilitating the services of many different types of social
service agencies, and these roots were always nurtured by promoting
the best use of non-profit social service resources in our community.
In the late 1990s, the agency then known as the Human Services Council
merged with a new volunteer driven agency supported by a coalition
of homeless and emergency services agencies. The mission of the
new organization "Empowering People with Information"
brought a commitment to using the best, most affordable technological
tools to support the activities of case managers and other other
social service workers. The resulting agency, called the Community
Services Network, Inc. (CSN), is the immediate predecessor to today's
2-1-1 Community Resources, Inc.
In a short span of time,
from 1996 to 2003, CSN developed its information and referral program,
First Call for Help, into a model service. Between 35,000 to 50,000
people would annually use the service looking for clear directions
on they could help themselves with support from local health and
human service resources.
Another CSN program,
which continues today within the 2-1-1 Community Resource, Inc.
organizational structure as Community Stewardship, serves as the
fiscal agent and fund manager for several major grants and philantrophic
contributions targeted to provide direct emergency financial assistance
to local households. Last year it oversaw the distribution of more
$1.4 million dollars to close to 3,000 families experiencing an
unanticipated finanical emergency.
Below is a history of
the two organizations, the Human Services Council, founded in 1968,
and the Community Services Network, founded in 1993.
Click
on the time period to view a short summary.
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1996 June -- After hearing a brief speech from
the Honorable Glenda Hood, Mayor of Orlando, the board of the Human
Services Council and the membership of the Community Services Network
vote to merge the organizations, creating the "new" Community
Services Network, a leading edge social service information company
serving the individuals, agencies and funders of Central Florida.
An interim board runs the organization for 3 months, providing strong
leadership through the transition, and working to build a new board
made up of outstanding community leaders from the business, government,
health care and social service sectors.
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HSC
1996 January - June -- We co-located with the Florida Brain
Injury Association as they too provide information and referral
services to the community. Also our association with the Community
Services Network grew culminating in the decision to merge the organizations.
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CSN
1996 January to June -- CSN grew from three sub-networks
to four, with the addition of the Ryan White Community Network of
agencies providing services to people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.
Our staff grew to include a Trainer with her Masters in Instructional
Technology, resulting in an upgrade in our documentation and the
arrival of the next wave of training: Computer Based Tutorials.
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HSC
1995 -- We worked closely with an number of collaborative
efforts including the Healthy Community Initiative and the Planning
Clearinghouse which are exploring new and creative ways of meeting
the needs in our community. We continue to address the concerns
of children through the Juvenile Alternative Services Program and
a newly implemented diversion program, YES, for youth accused of
shoplifting. A new Hotel and Motel Association Emergency Lodging
program was initiated. Marketing research related to Information
and Referral focused our outreach and training efforts to assure
citizens better access to our services. We added the Creole language
to our multi-lingual, I&R response. The Citizen's Review Panel
evaluated the requests of 56 agencies and made recommendations to
the City of Orlando and Orange County utilizing "electronic
meeting support" donated by the Phoenix Company. This technology
enhanced the integrity of the decision making process for the Citizen
Review Panel.
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CSN
1995 -- CSN receives a grant from The Edyth Bush Charitable
Foundation to hire a full time staff member for 3 months. Brett
Clemmer is loaned by the Coalition for the Homeless to begin distribution
of the first version of the CSN Client Management Software and to
determine the viability of the organization. A meeting in June made
up of many community leaders results in commitments for funding
from the City of Orlando, Orange County, HRS, and the Orlando Sentinel.
The City allows Bill Kunneke to work full time on the project at
CSN's office, loaned to them by Human Services Council. A second
programmer and a Support Technician soon join the staff as the software
develops and improves. Three groups of agencies make up the member
participants in the organization, representing the homeless, family
and emergency rent and utility assistance service providers.
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HSC
1994 -- The Orlando Utilities Commission and the Kissimmee
Utility Company joined the Emergency Funds Clearinghouse to assist
citizens in emergency financial situations. Our Juvenile Alternative
Services Program, JASP, joined with the new Juvenile Justice Department,
HRS, Orange County, and others as a partner in the new Juvenile
Assessment Center on Central Avenue. This new collaborative effort
creates a more efficient and effective response to juveniles who
have been involved in delinquent acts. We collaborated with the
Community Services Network to provide the Community Resource Directory
on disk. French and Creole were added to our multilingual Information
and Referral Services. The City of St. Cloud provided financial
support for our services for the first time. We worked with Orange
County to establish a Disaster Response Phone Team to provide information
and rumor control in the event of a disaster. Technical support
and facilitation was provided to the Haitian Community to establish
more outreach to Haitians needing services.
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CSN
1993 -- The Homeless Computer Network is started as an
effort to promote connectedness between providers of services to
the homeless. It is hoped that a common intake form could lead to
a computerized connection between agencies. This would lead to better
coordination and improved client service. The City of Orlando MIS
Department under the leadership of Frank Hagy provides volunteer
programmers to get the project started. Seeing the potential of
the system, a group of agencies serving families asks to participate.
They form the Family Services Network, and the two organizations
together become the Community Services Network.
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HSC
1993 -- The Community Resource Directory, the Senior Directory
and the Children and Youth Directory were updated. Provided Community
Resource Directory information for database for development of the
Community Services Network, a community wide computer link. Provided
coordination for Steering Committee for Haitian Outreach to work
to eliminate barriers to social service access. Twenty-nine community
agencies are collaborating in the Emergency Fund Clearinghouse.
Collaborated on development of a directory of resources for the
Learning Disabled. Quarterly monitoring of Agencies funded by the
City of Orlando and Orange County instituted. Produced a biannual
edition of HSC recreation resource called "Fun Times"
and distributed 70,000 booklets county-wide. The process utilized
by the Citizens Evaluation Committee to make allocation recommendations
to the City of Orlando and to Orange County for funding for non-profit
human services in our community was improved and streamlined utilizing
a generic application form. Additional funding for the JASP program
was secured from United Way to assure continued quality programming
for youth. Information and Referral services were enhanced through
the installation of a sophisticated telephone system and fully networked
I&R ARCIS software.
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1992
-- Was awarded a new contract for the Juvenile Alternative
Service Program (JASP) and for the Osceola contract. Added Shoplifters
Anonymous Program to JASP. I&R responded to 37,333 clients and
made 44,756 contacts, 1,989 more contacts than in 1991. Follow up
contacts numbered 5,716 or 13% of the year's total linkages. This
is an increase of 180% over fiscal year 1990-1991's figures of 2,040.
The Children and Youth Network, with guidance from the 1992 Recreation
Task Force and assistance from local publisher TV Today, compiled
and produced the 11th annual edition of Summer Fun. 55,000 copies
of Summer Fun were distributed through Orange elementary schools.
Another 15,000 booklets were distributed through the Library system.
Expanded number of agencies reviewed by the Evaluation Committee.
1992 Evaluation Committee, composed of 24 volunteers, donated more
than 2,200 hours to the joint evaluation of human services agencies
applying to Orange County and the City of Orlando for general fund
dollars.
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1991
-- Received funding for the first expansion of the Juvenile Alternative
Services Program (JASP) in nine years, enabling HSC to upgrade our
computer system and add two case managers, a Parenting Program,
and a program to begin outreach into the community. Sold first two
ARCIS (Automated Resources and Client Information System) packages
to Tampa and Oklahoma City. Received grant from Howard Phillips
Fund to provide headsets for I&R staff, a necessary first step
to an on-line I&R system. Added Kissimmee Utilities Authority's
Good Neighbor Fund to the emergency fund Clearinghouse system. Published
1991 editions of the "mini" and "maxi" Community
Resources Directories. Received funding from Area Agency on Aging
to add Brevard County information to HSC's resource database, thus
producing a single system based on HSC's taxonomy for HRS District
7.
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1990
-- Held two-day Strategic Planning session for Board members and
management staff, with consulting services donated by Neil Sellers.
Received Community Service Award from Walt Disney World for Emergency
Funds Management Program. Received grant from Howard Phillips Fund
to upgrade computer and programming for Emergency Funds Management
system and to design and implement follow-up study of clients assisted.
Heart of Florida United Way expanded the Family Emergency Fund to
include Osceola County as part of HSC's system. Obtained funding
from Osceola County for I&R Outreach Service in Osceola. Published
second edition of Children and Youth Resources Directory.
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1989
-- Provided intensive assistance in successful effort to establish
Orange County Citizens' Commission for Children which resulted in
$3 million in new funding for children's services. Completed Community
Resources Taxonomy, which provides a classification system of services
and programs for ARCIS (Automated Resource and Client Information
System). Utilized taxonomy to produce new editions of "Maxi"
and "Mini" Community Resources Directories and Senior
Resources Directory. Contracted with Area Agency on Aging to utilize
the resource database from ARCIS for the Better Living for Seniors
computerized system in the four counties of HRS District VII and
proposed replication statewide. Expanded I&R's Seminole Outreach
Specialist's position to full-time and obtained funding from Seminole
County Commission to establish a presence in Seminole County in
donated office space.
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1988
-- Launched the Advocate, a quarterly newsletter highlighting the
needs and services of the community under Board of Trustees leadership
and funding. Hired a full-time Planning Resource Specialist to implement
ARCIS (Automated Resource Client Information System). Expanded Information
and Referral to include a part-time Outreach Specialist for Osceola
County. With underwriting from Laurel Oaks Hospital, developed specialized
directory for children and youth. Developed Juvenile Court-Watching
Program to train volunteers to observe cases within the juvenile
justice system. Completed successful first year of VISTA project,
Hotels/ Motels/ Restaurants in Partnership; recognition included
selection by United Way of America as one of their "Best Practices",
award of a grant from the Victim Assistance Program (VOCA), and
featured by the federal agency ACTION at a regional workshop and
in their newsletter.
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1987
-- Named Mickey Adams Executive Director. Relocated HSC offices
to Suite 150 is same building and held open house. Received funding
from Junior League of Orlando/Winter Park and the Howard Phillips
Fund to hire a full-time case manager for cooperative Homeless Management
Project with Junior League and Coalition for the specialized Senior
Resources Directory for Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties. Hosted
a media conference with Junior League of Orlando/Winter Park and
Laurel Oaks Hospital to initiate the action phase of the Adolescent
Pregnancy Child Watch program. Received grant from Junior League's
Community Assistance Program to purchase 100 posters from the Children's
Defense Fund to be distributed to all middle and high schools in
Orange County. Held Board Retreat in October and developed mission
statement focusing on HSC's advocacy role. Added administration
of Florida Power Corporation's "Energy Neighborhood Fund"
to computerized client tracking system for FEF/FEMA.
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1986
-- Initiated a volunteer recruitment program to provide more than
100 hours a week of no-cost assistance with Information and Referral
telephone lines; presented a course in community resources through
Valencia Community College; completed in conjunction with the Junior
League of Orlando-Winter Park an Adolescent Pregnancy Study; hosted
the Third Annual Children's Budget Conference and the Second Annual
FLAIRS-FACS State Conference.
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1985
-- Completed a study to establish priorities for services funded
by Orange County and/or the City of Orlando. Concluded successfully
the Refugee-Entrant Resettlement Program. Initiated the administration
of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Initiated the administration
of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program in conjunction with the
Family Emergency Fund and computerized the client tracking system
for both accounts. Piloted the management of a Seminole County Family
Emergency Fund. Children and Youth Network recognized as local county
council of Governor's Constituency for Children.
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1984
-- Received one of five Walt Disney World Community Service Awards
of $1,000. Sold 2,382 of the new computerized editions of the Community
Resources Directory and began work on expanded version targeted
for completion in early 1985. Published the first "maxi"
edition of the computerized Community Resources Directory. Began
publishing "Network News" to disseminate information on
CYN activities and special events among Orange County children and
youth serving organizations. Initiated a volunteer recruitment full-time
coordinator beginning in August.
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1983
-- Officially changed name to Human Services Council of Orange County,
Inc. Received Walt Disney World's "Spirit of Epcot" award
of $10,000 for the computerization of client and resource information
system. Published new computerized edition of Community Resources
Directory. Received second HRS grant to coordinate job placement
services among four other agencies for Refugee/Entrants. Coordinated
the Chemical People Project in five counties, recruiting and training
400 volunteers to conduct 42 town meetings to impact the problem
of substance abuse. Sponsored a Strategic Planning and Marketing
Seminar for non-profit agencies.
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1982
-- HSPC expanded evaluations to include the City of Orlando as well
as Orange County funding. Received HRS grant to coordinate services
delivery among four agencies for the Refugee/Entrant Resettlement
Project. Coordinated the cooperative efforts of four downtown churches
to provide shelter for the homeless during freezing nights. Distributed
5,000 booklets describing summer recreation programs. Helped sponsor
the 1982 Governor's Challenge Conference. Co-sponsored a non-profit
survival workshop. Reviewed nine projects which had applied for
Federal grants to determine need for services and possible duplication.
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1981
-- Expanded the Children and Youth Network. LEAA Youth Diversion
Project became Juvenile Alternative Services Project (JASP). The
I&R Resource File became computerized. HSPC began coordinating
role in the Refugee/Entrant Services area. Basic survival needs
were found to be the top priority in Orange County according to
the 1981 Needs Assessment Survey conducted by HSPC, Orange County
Department of Community Affairs, and Data Analysis and Research
Consultants, Inc. Produced new edition of the Community Resources
Directory.
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1980
-- Named Ann Manley Executive Director. Submitted grant for Computerized
Information System. Appearance of Ann Manley on Channel 9's Sunrise
program. Approved Personnel Policies and Salary Schedule. Held Board
Retreat in October. Approved Five-Year Work Plan. Developed an application
form for submitting proposals to Orange County. Provided technical
assistance to Orange County Ad Hoc committee on Foster-Group Homes.
Endorsed "Marijuana Alert" and provided technical assistance
to parent groups organizing in Orange County. Advocated for implementation
of Guardian Ad Litem and Police-School Liaison programs. Served
900 families through FEF. Worked with Council of Community Based
Organizations (CCBO) and Callahan Neighborhood to save Callahan
School for neighborhood center. Published Directory of Community
Resources.
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1979
-- Organized Housing Task Force. Installed Telephone Typewriter
for Deaf (TTY) donated by Southern Bell Pioneers to I&R. Published
Orange County Youth Needs. VSB became an independent agency. Held
workshops to set HSPC goals. Initiated Housing Evaluation and Location
Project (HELP). Relocated HSPC office to 3191 Maguire Boulevard.
Developed slide presentations. Disbanded Seminole County I&R.
Worked with City of Orlando Transient Task Force to develop report
and recommendations. Prepared Metro Directory agency list. Instituted
flex time for HSPC employees. Named Pat Schwartz as HSPC Interim
Executive Director. Established Children & Youth Network (CYN)
as part of HSPC. Received Steinke contribution to Family Emergency
Fund for persons older than 55 years of age.
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1978
-- Conducted Orange County in-depth needs assessment with FTU. Participated
in workshop on Juvenile Prostitution. Submitted application to East
Central Florida Planning Council for Law Education Assistance Administration
(LEAA). Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
dollars to fund Youth Services System. Published first VSB Christmas
Wishbook. Conducted workshop on Networking. Established priorities
for human service programs as basis for work of Evaluation.
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1977
-- Implemented Alternative Community Service Program by VSB. Published
Data Source Directory. Published Training Manual for Youth Diversion
Project (YDP). Established VSB Christmas Clearinghouse to match
needy families with sponsors. Instituted Operation Chill by I&R
in cooperation with other agencies to find shelter for homeless
persons when the temperature dropped below 32 degrees. Participated
as one of the five sites in the nation in evaluation of Youth Diversion.
Published tri-county Directory of Community Resources.
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1976
-- Named Capacity Building Site by Center for Action Research in
Boulder, Colorado and conducted Youth Needs Survey. Surveyed transportation
needs of handicapped (in cooperation with other agencies) which
served as basis for the incorporation and purchase of buses for
Transportation for Handicapped and Elderly (T.H.E. Wayfarer). Began
publication of VSB The Town Crier newsletter. Initiated Youth Diversion
Project with $1,000 LEAA Special Emphasis Grant. Established Information
and Referral Center in Seminole County. Supervised field work for
HRS Title XX District Needs Assessment.
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1975
-- Changed name of organization to Human Services Planning Council
of Orange County, Inc. (HSPC). Evaluated agencies for United Way
and Orange County. Received Dr. Phillips Foundation contribution
to FEF for food. Reorganized HSCP committee structure: new committees
included Data Collection Committee, Evaluation Committee and Planning
Committee. Contracted with Comprehensive Education and Training
Act (CETA) to provide employees. Relocated offices to 70 East South
Street. Designated by Orange County to provide A-95 reviews and
comments on social programs to East Central Florida Regional Planning
Council. Developed social service element for Comprehensive Plan
for Northwest Orange County. Completed case study of Community Based
Juvenile Delinquency Prevention, Diversion, and Rehabilitation Programs.
Expanded I&R Outreach program. Published updated Directory of
Community Resources.
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1974
-- Developed Community Needs Information System (CNIS). Developed
Agency Review and Comment Procedure. Appointed major study groups
to develop CNIS and perform agency evaluations. Separated 4-C from
CSC as independent agency.
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1973
-- Assumed administration of Family Emergency Fund (FEF) for United
Way. Established Central Florida Committee for Capital Funds (CFCFC).
Published the first Directory of Community Resources done by CSC.
Study of social planning and information development done by Duane
Beck. Developed list of camping opportunities for youth by I&R
staff. Evaluated agencies requesting revenue sharing funds from
Orange County. Surveyed human services in Orange County in study
by Dr. David Epley. Employed Richard L. Mills as Executive Director.
Contracted with Coca Cola for Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C)
to care for children of migrant farm workers. Studied need for Travelers'
Aid Services in Orange County.
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1972
-- Organized Forum of Agency Executives. Conducted course with Valencia
Community College on Volunteer Administration. Performed survey
of emergency services in Orange County for United Way. Established
Information and Referral (I&R) Center as part of CSC. Organized
core group of Youth-oriented agencies to begin design of Youth Services
System. Cooperated with other agencies in study of transportation
for the elderly.
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1971
-- Eleven-member Board of Trustees appointed and Council funded
by Orange County and United Way. Established and staff office at
86 West Underwood. Employed first Executive Director, Jerold A.
Torano. Incorporated Volunteer Service Bureau (VSB) into Community
Services Council (CSC). Established Community Coordinated Child
Care (4-C) as part of CSC. Began survey of Day care for Retarded
Children.
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1968
-- Chartered by the State of Florida under the leadership of Charles
O. Andrews, Senator Beth Johnson, Harriet West Doenges and E.W.
Neidig.
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