News & Updates

News & Updates http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/home/news--updates 211 FROM A RURAL PERSPECTIVE http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/211-from-a-rural-perspective So what good is 211 going to do me?  http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/211-from-a-rural-perspective Fri, 08 Dec 2006 03:44:57 -0600 UW's agree to support BC211 for the next 5 years http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/uws-agree-to-support-bc211-for-the-next-5-years Following a two day meeting in early September on the BC 211 Initiative, the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">17 United Ways</st1:address></st1:Street> in BC have tentatively agreed to provide multi-year, joint funding for a province wide 211 Service.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/uws-agree-to-support-bc211-for-the-next-5-years Sun, 10 Dec 2006 07:27:50 -0600 BC 211 Implementation Plan is Complete http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/bc-211-implementation-plan-is-complete The BC 211 Steering Committee is pleased to advise that the implementation plan for a province-wide 211 service has been completed and they are continuing work to advance 211 in BC. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/bc-211-implementation-plan-is-complete Sun, 10 Dec 2006 07:25:53 -0600 BC 211 Implementation Plan http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/bc-211-implementation-plan The BC 211 Steering Committee is pleased to advise that an implementation plan for a province-wide 211 service has been completed.  A Project Team of staff and consultants from the United Way of the Lower Mainland, the Province of British Columbia, and Information Services Vancouver, together with consultants from IBM Global Business Services, developed the BC 211 Implementation Plan.  This work was enriched by input and advice from communities across BC with many local service providers and United Ways of BC participating in stakeholder engagement sessions and helping to build awareness and support for 211 in their communities http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/bc-211-implementation-plan Wed, 01 Nov 2006 12:22:08 -0600 Questions you’ve asked http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/questions-youve-asked The following questions were raised by people in the community: http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/questions-youve-asked Fri, 25 Aug 2006 12:23:27 -0500 511 and other N11 numbers http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/511-and-other-n11-numbers On July 28, 2006 the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) assigned the 511 number to be used to provide free weather and traveler information. To read the CRTC decision, please go to:  http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/511-and-other-n11-numbers Thu, 24 Aug 2006 07:56:21 -0500 BC 211 Initiative Progress http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/bc-211-initiative-progress The implementation planning activities of the BC 211 Initiative are progressing steadily. In late July, The Project team conducted half-day stakeholder engagement sessions to gather input from stakeholders from across the province.  Tim Beachy of the United Community Services Co-op facilitated these sessions with representatives from the volunteer centres, crisis lines, and providers of services for homelessness. http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/bc-211-initiative-progress Thu, 24 Aug 2006 07:53:17 -0500 Other 211 services http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/other-211-services In addition to BC, a <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on">Nova Scotia</st1:State> and <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ontario</st1:place></st1:State> are also working on province wide 211 services.  211 services already exist in: http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/other-211-services Thu, 24 Aug 2006 08:01:14 -0500 Stakeholder Engagement Sessions http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/stakeholder-engagement-sessions In addition to comprehensive information & referral, 211 centres across <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on">North America</st1:place> are used to provide other types of assistance.  For example, in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:City></st1:place>, 211 provides information regarding emergency cold weather shelter availability.  In <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Atlanta</st1:City></st1:place>, 211 also enables callers to find volunteering opportunities and ways to donate household and office items. To better understand the needs of BC’s service providers and to discuss opportunities, the Steering Committee has invited individuals from stakeholder groups from across the province to a number of facilitated sessions.  These sessions are part of an ongoing dialogue between BC 211and stakeholders about how BC’s 211 service can best serve the needs of our citizens.    http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/stakeholder-engagement-sessions Thu, 24 Aug 2006 08:00:56 -0500 Data collection http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/data-collection A province-wide 211 service will provide up-to-date information about services and programs in communities across BC.   Via telephone or internet, people will be able to locate the resources and services they need quickly and easily.  A current and accurate database is therefore critical to ensuring that the BC 211 service meets the needs of service providers and the public. To achieve that goal, the Project Team, lead by IBM, is currently working on the defining and designing the data collection requirements, tools and processes. http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/data-collection Thu, 24 Aug 2006 08:00:38 -0500 Milestones http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/milestones The Partnership & Implementation Planning Phase of the BC 211 Initiative has reached a number of key milestones. A BC 211 Steering Committee has been established with members drawn from United Ways, the provincial government and information and referral services providers. http://www.bc211.vcn.bc.ca/milestones Thu, 24 Aug 2006 08:01:45 -0500