A partnership between United Way of Greater Chattanooga, various corporate partners and Hamilton County Schools will make the local 2-1-1 service more widely available to those in need.
The free, confidential information and referral line, which connects people across the Tennessee Valley with local resources, will soon be accessible via several community-based kiosks.
The first pilot kiosk has been installed at Red Bank High School.
“One of the most difficult things as an educator is to know where to direct students and parents to find resources that can help them in times of need,” says Elaine Harper, principal of Red Bank High School. “Now we’ll be able to not only give them a phone number but walk them down the hall to find the resources and community services they need to support their family.”
The 2-1-1 kiosks will provide information to families and students on how to access community resources including food, health care, insurance and utility payment assistance, stable housing options and employment, veteran, child care and youth services.
BlueCare Tennessee, a subsidiary of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, is a primary partner in helping United Way provide the expanded service. EPB and Hamilton Plastics have also provided support for the effort.
Over the next few months, this kiosk pilot project will be expanded into several other local schools and a community health site.
Source: United Way of Greater Chattanooga