The Pennsylvania
Association for Information & Referral (PAIR) is committed to playing a lead role
in the development of a 211 system in Pennsylvania.
PAIR is the Pennsylvania Affiliate of
the Alliance of Information & Referral Systems
(AIRS), the professional national information & referral (I&R) membership
organization, representing more than 1,000 comprehensive, specialized, and military
I&Rs within the United States and Canada. AIRS and United Way of America (UWA) have partnered to play a major role in the National 2-1-1 Initiative.
In Pennsylvania, PAIR has
been co-convener of the Pennsylvania 211 Collaborative, in conjunction with United Way of Pennsylvania, including
financial and in-kind support of Pennsylvania’s 211 efforts. Most
importantly, PAIR has supported
the 211 effort by carrying out our mission of building the professionalism of Pennsylvania’s I&R infrastructure through
standards, education, training and certification.
PAIR believes that…
211 in Pennsylvania should
operate within national 211 and AIRS professional
I&R
operating standards.
211 in Pennsylvania should
maximize use of the existing information and referral
infrastructure,
with the end result being a statewide, coordinated, effective
and
cost-efficient 211 system.
211 in Pennsylvania should be
designed, developed and implemented
collaboratively
with the active involvement of PAIR (Pennsylvania’s only
association
representing the field of I&R and its standards) in any 211 lead
entity
that’s created - in conjunction with United
Way of Pennsylvania,
State
agencies, and other key stakeholders.
211 in Pennsylvania should
deliver a comprehensive, responsive and high quality
service to
everyone within the Commonwealth. To that end,
it is essential that all I&Rs and the full spectrum of service providers play a role
in the 211 delivery system, whether it be as a call-center operator, I&R information
source, or a community service included in the 211 database.
PAIR Proposed Role in 211 Development:
Assuming that 211 in Pennsylvania will be
funded primarily through federal/state dollars with a lead entity/211 Collaborative, as
outlined in the federal Calling for 211 Act, PAIR is prepared to play the following roles
as part of that lead entity for 211…
- act as the representative for “comprehensive and specialized information and
referral providers…”, as outlined in the Calling for 211 Act; and
-
provide consultation on 211 Call Center operating standards, including, but not limited to
oversight of protocol development, database development, data collection, staff training
and certification, and adherence to national 211 and AIRS standards for accreditation.
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