Author: Spire Advertising

As a social service or community agency, you want to serve and help as many people as possible. Sometimes the most difficult part of this business is making people aware that your services are available. That’s why Ashland 211 is such a great addition to our community. Ashland 211 provides an easy-to-remember, non-emergency service number for residents and visitors of Ashland County to get quick answers to their questions.

That’s what’s good for consumers. What about your agency? Why is it important as an agency to list your services with Ashland 211?

Increased Visibility

Simply by listing your agency with Ashland 211, you raise your visibility in the community for those who call the number. Increased visibility means greater potential impact in the community.

Access to Referrals

211 is in some ways a local network of social service agencies, governmental entities, the United Way, and other community groups. When you’re connected to that network, your agency is more likely to receive referrals from individuals within those various networks.

Streamlined Communication

As more and more people turn to 211 for answers to their questions, fewer wrong or misdirected calls will have to be taken by your agency’s staff. With up-to-date and accurate information available through 211, Ashland 211 reduces the time your staff spends on calls and follow-ups. There’s also less likelihood of missed opportunities to serve someone in need.

Comprehensive Database

When your agency is part of the Ashland 211 database, you join a vast array of resources that help to complete a full snapshot of what our community has to offer, from service providers to nonprofits to volunteer opportunities. Your involvement demonstrates your organization’s commitment to the broader Ashland community.

Ability to Track Needs and Trends

As a central source of community service information, Ashland 211 also serves as a central source of data that can inform local agencies about emerging trends, needs, and potential gaps in service areas. This broader portrait of the community helps agencies make informed decisions about where they should invest their resources and how they should focus their efforts in the community.

So, what are you waiting for? Add or update your agency’s information to Ashland 211’s database today.

There are many agencies in Ashland County that have already connected with 211, but there are also some groups that aren’t part of the local 211 service yet. 

Maybe you aren’t sure if the service is really that valuable. Maybe you aren’t sure if it’s worth the time and energy to maintain this database. Can’t people get this information somewhere else?

But did you know that as of 2021, 17% of Ashland County residents do not have broadband internet in their homes? That means out of 52,316 individuals in Ashland County, 8,894 can’t just do a quick search online to find the support services they need. These individuals are just as likely or even more likely to need access to the support services our valuable agencies provide in our community. Those who do have internet access are at the mercy of their internet search provider to direct them to potential agencies that might be able to meet their needs, but only after hours of hunting online

It’s far easier to dial 211 and talk to an informed specialist who can point you in the right direction right away, when you need the help.

Who Are We Serving?

The purpose of our service agencies and organizations in Ashland County is to reach the underserved and impoverished, to help those in need, and to make the lives of those in our community better however we can. Why wouldn’t you want to utilize whatever means you can to reach and serve “the least of these”?

If you still aren’t sure, here’s what your agency is missing if you aren’t listed on 211:

Efficient Referral System

Local 211 services provide an efficient referral system that matches people in need with appropriate services and programs, reducing the workload of local agencies and ensuring that people get the help they need quickly.

Helpful Preventative Measures

Local 211 services are often the first point of contact for people facing difficult situations. Partnering with a local 211 service can help local agencies respond more effectively to prevent the situation from escalating into a crisis scenario, ensuring that people get the help they need when they need it most.

Improved Client Satisfaction

Ashland 211 eliminates the run-around clients can experience calling the wrong agencies in search of help. Working with a local 211 service can improve client satisfaction by ensuring that people are connected with the most appropriate resources, leading to better outcomes and increased trust in local agencies.

Access to Up-to-Date and Accurate Information

Local 211 services aren’t just for residents. 211 maintains a comprehensive database of community resources, making it easy for local agencies to access current and accurate information about services and programs in their area so you can also stay informed. At the same time, you don’t have to invest resources into maintaining your own database of resources, saving you money and energy.

Increased Visibility

With your information on 211, your organization will have greater visibility and connection to the people who need your services.

Increased Community Collaboration

Oftentimes the right hand of support services doesn’t know what the left hand is doing. Collaborating with a local 211 service can help local agencies build partnerships with other organizations and stakeholders in their community, leading to increased collaboration and more effective service delivery.

Improved Data Collection and Analysis

Local 211 services collect and analyze data on community needs and service usage, providing local agencies with valuable insights that can inform their program and service planning. The more agencies that are involved, the better the data.

Increased Efficiency

By partnering with a local 211 service, local agencies can streamline their intake process, reduce wait times, and increase their capacity to serve more people.

Help us use Ashland 211 to its fullest potential by listing your services or providing an update. Learn more about Ashland 211’s benefits and services here.

The joy and shimmer of the holiday season doesn’t seem to linger long after December ends, does it? Like the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, whatever we left behind to focus on the fun of Christmas and the New Year comes back to haunt us again in January. There is a whole range of needs in our community once the holidays end. First Call 211 Ashland can help you find the support you need, no matter what you’re looking for. There’s no reason to get the run-around, calling places that aren’t quite the right fit—211 specialists can help you get to the root of your problem quickly so you are connected with the best organization for answers. Every call is a real person who is there to listen, offer comfort and hope, and provide solutions no matter what you’re struggling with.

Here are just a few topics the agents at 211 can help you with now that the holidays are over:

Relief in a Time of Need

If times are tougher than you expected or your circumstances changed after the holidays, First Call 211 can help you find the support and services you need to help. Every call is confidential. If you’ve lost a job or lost another source of income, 211 can provide direction to organizations that can help with funding for your basic human needs, housing needs, food, utility support, and rent assistance.

Support and Care for You and Your Loved Ones

Sometimes, a trip home for the holidays or extended time spent with loved ones reveals unmet needs or changes in their circumstances that can leave us anxious and worried. First Call 211 can help you access drug and alcohol treatment, after-school programming for children, veteran support, help for seasonal depression and other mental health resources, weight loss support, health care, elderly care, or domestic violence help.

First Call 211 has access to an extensive database of services and resources available in our community to match your needs with the agencies that can help.

Things to Do in Ashland County

The holidays are often filled with plenty of activities to keep us busy, but as soon as the calendar turns over, the children’s concerts, Christmas light displays, baking, and hustling from stores to parties and back again comes to an end. In some ways, the end of the holiday season can offer a breath of fresh air and reprieve from the chaos, but eventually, the kids get bored again, and everyone develops cabin fever. What is there to do in Ashland to keep them, and you, occupied?

Reach out to 211 to find out about all of the area activities, from events at the local library to recurring programming offered by local organizations, like the Ashland Kroc Center or the Ashland YMCA. There’s always something to do in Ashland—it’s just a matter of finding out the details!

If you’re an organization in Ashland County that has support to offer, don’t miss out on this opportunity to broadcast your services and stay connected to the public’s needs. Learn more about First Call 211 Ashland or call 2-1-1 today to find the support you need today!

As the holiday season comes to an end, many people in our community will be seeking help for financial, emotional, mental, and social needs. Are the resources you offer in our community represented on Ashland 211?

Holiday Challenges that Bring Post-Holiday Needs

The stress (both good and bad!) and the financial strain of the holidays can be tough to recover from once the calendar turns over. In an effort to make Christmas merry, families often stretch themselves thin, use credit cards to make ends meet, and can sometimes struggle to get adequate food, pay their utilities, and more.

On top of meeting our physical needs, the holidays can also put a strain on our mental, social, and emotional needs. After all of the buzz of company parties, year-end celebrations, and family gatherings, there’s an almost inevitable slump and burnout, even if these gatherings are generally lighthearted and fun. Many of us have over consumed both food and beverages, abandoned our workout routines, slept less, and rested fewer hours than we had hoped.

Whether social, emotional, or physical, as people in our community start to evaluate their needs in the new year, make sure they can access the most up-to-date information for resources you offer through Ashland 211.

What Might Need to Be Updated on Ashland 211?

• Operating hours after the holidays
• New staff contact information
• Upcoming events
• New services you provide
• Services you aren’t able to provide anymore
• Revised qualifications for services you provide in 2023

If you have changes to make or aren’t sure if your information is up to date, visit ​​ashland211.org to get listed or provide an update so we can keep this resource updated with comprehensive information to support our local community.

Generosity shines as one of Ashland County’s true virtues, especially at this time of the year. From coat drives to food boxes to Christmas gifts for children, there are loads of opportunities to give and to receive assistance around the holidays.

But whether you want to give or need to receive, where do you find this information?

Call 211!

First Call 211 Ashland can help you connect with the organizations that are making a difference this holiday season.

Need Help This Holiday Season?

Area organizations can help you secure new coats, boots, mittens, and more for you and your family. You can get help with food. You can even get help to make this holiday especially memorable for your children with gifts that might be out of your budget this year. Anyone can get down on their luck. When times are tough, we gather together to help each other out. If you need holiday assistance this year, don’t be afraid to call 211 to find out where you can go to help make ends meet this holiday season.

How to Help Others This Holiday Season

Sometimes it’s hard to know where to go to be able to give back to the community you love. There are lots of needs, and there are also lots of opportunities to support those needs. If you want to find out what’s being done to support families in Ashland County so that you can contribute to area causes, call 211 to connect with the causes that matter most to you.

Promote Holiday Support through 211

If you are hosting holiday fundraisers or providing support for those less fortunate during the holidays this year, you can promote your events and resources through First Call 211. The service is absolutely free, free to use and free to update. It’s a free resource for all of us! 

Visit ashland211.org to get listed or to update your listing to better represent the current needs and services available this holiday season.

Let’s make the spirit of the holidays in Ashland County shine brighter than ever this year! Call 211 to learn more about everything that’s happening this holiday season.

Have you heard about the new, non-emergency community helpline in Ashland? When you dial 211, you can access all kinds of free, confidential, locally-based information to help you find the help you and your household need. This information is provided by local agencies and organizations so that you have a one-stop-shop for answers to your non-emergency questions.

Here are some examples of the kinds of help Ashland 211 offers:

Where to Find Help with Life’s Essentials?

If you’ve lost a job or had a change of circumstances and you’re struggling to make ends meet, 211 can point you in the right direction for help with food, monthly bills, housing, job support and unemployment, and more.

Where to Find Help with Mental Health?

If you’re having a hard time coping with negative emotions or are trying to navigate a challenging season in your life, 211 can help you find support in the forms of counselors, therapists, psychologists, and other mental health care professionals in the Ashland area that are suitable for the particular issue you are dealing with.

Where to Find Help with Drug and Alcohol Addiction?

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance misuse, 211 can point you in the right direction for the help and support you need.

Where to Find Childcare and Educational Support for Your Children?

It can be hard to know where to locate childcare in our community, and if you’re new to Ashland altogether, it might be difficult to know where to start with regards to the educational resources in our area. Call 211 to learn more about daycares, preschools, primary and secondary education options, and more.

Where to Find Information about Upcoming Community Events?

Do you need more information about an upcoming event? Did you hear a rumor that something was happening in Ashland but you aren’t sure when or where? Maybe you’re just looking for something to do this weekend and are curious what events are happening in the region. Dial 211, and you’ll be in the know in a hurry!

211 is always being updated by local agencies and organizations so that you can find the most up-to-date information about Ashland-area events, community outreach, and services.

The next time you have a non-emergency question about life in Ashland County, give 211 a call. You’ll get answers so much faster than trying to call around to all of the places that come up in your Google search, and the service is free and confidential, too! Visit 211’s website for more details.

There are many reasons why people dial 9-1-1… but many of those reasons are not emergencies. As a result, dispatchers and first responders often get bogged down in non-emergency situations instead of being able to respond promptly to the concerns that are truly emergencies.

That’s why an alternative, free, community dial-in resource was created to serve the non-emergency needs people everywhere have.

211 Ashland

211 Ashland is a free, confidential, locally-based information hub to assist community members in finding the help they need. People who call 211 will be able to ask any kinds of community related questions and be directed to the right resource for answers.

This is such a great way to make sure that residents all across Ashland County can find the answers they need to their non-emergency related questions. But a resource is only as valuable as the content that is put into it. We need more and more of the organizations in our community to sign up to be a part of 211 Ashland.

What Types of Organizations Benefit from 211 Ashland?

211 Ashland is a resource for community members to find answers to all kinds of questions. When you are a part of an organization, it’s easy to assume that everyone knows your services exist and how to reach you to take advantage of them. The reality is that most people don’t think about a service provider until they have a need, and when they have that need, they don’t even know where to begin.

211 Ashland is that starting point. The 211 Ashland service will listen to the question or concern of each caller and be able to quickly identify the appropriate service providers in our community who can help them take care of that need. No more late-night searching through websites trying to figure out where they should go and what they should do to get help. No more hours spent talking to administrators at each service organization only to find out the caller is ineligible for your services or worse, not even speaking with the correct agency.

If your organization provides educational services, counseling services, health services, environmental services, or disaster relief services, you are eligible to be a part of 211 Ashland. Submitting your 211 profile will relieve your office staff from fielding call after call from people who just don’t know what they’re looking for. It will allow your staff to focus on the parts of their job that matter most: taking care of your clients.

Help us make this resource a comprehensive, indispensable tool for Ashland County residents. Learn more and sign up today.