2-1-1 is a free phone number and online database that connects community members quickly and effectively to information about and referrals to health and human services for every day needs and in times of crisis. Call services are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week. 2-1-1 is currently available in 38 California counties, covering 96% of the population. In 2016, a total of 3,495 calls were received by 2-1-1 Shasta and 21,732 unique IP addresses searched the website.
Various County programs including Public Assistance, Mental Health and Maternal Child Health have mandatory requirements of providing a comprehensive list of local social service providers (health, utility assistance, rental assistance, legal services) to Shasta County residents. The Regional Services branch in cooperation with the Adult Services branch has maintained this service, through 2-1-1 with the United Way, since 2011. In order to encourage outreach to increase call volume, the contract compensation is structured so that contractor is compensated based on performance of responsibilities. United Way 2-1-1 maintains additional funding sources which cover other aspects of the program including funding from Dignity Health, First 5 Shasta, Redding Rancheria and the California Endowment.
In 2015, the Health and Human Services Agency-Public Health Branch (HHSA-PH) was awarded a $1.6 million multi-year grant from the California Department of Public Health to establish a Lifetime of Wellness: Communities in Action (LWCA) program. LWCA focuses on evidence-based prevention measures to improve overall health and reduce chronic disease in Shasta County with an emphasis on diabetes.
In Shasta County, one in ten adults have diabetes and approximately half of adults have prediabetes. Furthermore, because there are no signs or symptoms, approximately 90% of adults with prediabetes do not know they have it. Identifying people at risk for diabetes and linking them to resources to improve their health can greatly improve health outcomes and prevent costly complications.
The renewal agreement with the United Way also includes a special HHSA – Public Health project to expand and enhance the diabetes resources in 2-1-1; create and publish a pre-diabetes website; develop information and education messages; develop a special message to screen callers to determine if they are at risk for prediabetes or diabetes; develop a plan to increase awareness of prediabetes in Shasta County and participate on the Diabetes Prevention Program steering committee. This special project will commence upon execution of the agreement and end on September 30, 2018.
This agreement also authorizes the HHSA Director to sign minor, prospective and retroactive, amendments that do not result in a substantial or functional change to the original intent of the agreement and do not increase the total compensation payable under this agreement.